Derby hero Andy King dies aged 58

Condolences to all of his family and friends and Andy will be missed by anyone who had the good fortune to meet him. A proper Evertonian who will never be forgotten by those who watched him play for the club.

A super player, who I will always admire.

Sad news.

He loved the club and gave his all for us and puts to absolute shame too many of the current squad whose attitude would not have been tolerated by Andy on the pitch.

If only we could unearth a young player like him today.

RIP Andy and thanks for so many good memories - weÂ’ve lost a true great!

Apart from the obvious derby goal, does anyone else remember the goal he scored at Derby County, when he turned the centre half inside out and lobbed the keeper? Absolutely brilliant! One of my favourite Everton goals.

Shocked by this news and only 58 as well. RIP, Kingy

He was a great guy but also a True Blue and he loved his time here and just fell in love with Everton and the people of Liverpool. I would like to pass on my deepest condolences to all of AndyÂ’s family and friends. RIP Andy you will always be in our hearts and memories.

I was at the game in October 1978 too. A real effervescent character who started out as a Spurs supporter I think, but became a died in the wool Blue.

Gone far too early. RIP Kingy.

Hopefully Michael or Lyndon will pass on TWebÂ’s condolences to the family

I was in the upper Gladwys street stand for THAT goal, threw my son right up in the air, nearly forgot to catch him, everyone going berserk, what a day.

Goodnight, God Bless Andy, Rest in peace.

Always humble, always played with a smile on his face.

May he rest in peace and condolences to the family.

Hopefully someone will open an online condolence book so we can let him and his family know how much he was loved by all.

THAT goal may not have been his best but it ended 7yrs of hurt and constant Derby ragging. The ground erupted and post match we asked every Red we met to tell us where Kings Drive was.Those that didnÂ’t were soon told.
He will live on in Blue heaven. You can bet on it.

In the end, whether we win, draw or lose, it is being a Blue that bonds us despite our little squabbles.

And he was one I loved.

Whilst we werenÂ’t the greatest team in the world, we were enjoyable to watch and with Andy in the team anything seemed possible. If we were able to bottle the manÂ’s enthusiasm for the game of football and for Everton in particular we would be unbeatable. Few players have represented the man in the street (Gwladys) as well as Andy King did. RIP Andy.

And who can forget the post-match on the pitch interview - Everton 3 Man Utd 3 - 10 April 1982 on YouTube

One of my first Everton heroes. He absolutely adored Everton. The first of my Lee heroes to go.

Absolutely gutted.

RIP Kingy – how I loved to sing that song.

Condolences to all of your family and friends.

Not many northern teams seemed to sign them (I remember when Utd signed Gordon Hill, some treated his arrival as though they had signed E.T).

Northern teams generally featured a few lads from the immediate city/town, a couple of tough Scots, a Welsh and/or Irish lad and a few players from the surrounding areas.

Southerners, according to the received Â’wisdomÂ’ of the times, were Â’fancy DansÂ’ and seen as lacking..erm..something (ie: northern stuff - grit, honesty, rickets etc).

So signing And King was quite exotic, just for the fact that he spoke with that accent.

I remember my (late) dad initially wasnÂ’t too impressed with the signing, but changed his mind very quickly based on AKÂ’s personality more than his play ("IÂ’d have Andy King over some miserable Yorkshire get any day").

I was a fan from day one, King was cocky and relaxed and seemed genuinely happy to have joined us and as it was something new/different I embraced it/him (so I was basically the complete opposite of how I am these days).

As a player he could be inconsistent and appeared to be a player who enjoyed Â’a good timeÂ’, however you have to remember players back then werenÂ’t on much more than the average feller so he was hardly living like Beckham.

When he was on blob, he could be very good and it was obvious he definitely didnÂ’t like losing (I understand nobody likes losing, but I love a player who truly hates losing).

Today weÂ’ll all remember his goal against them in 1978 and quite right too.

In spectacular style, he ended 7 years of gloating from those horrible twats and gave us a night weÂ’ll never forget (I canÂ’t tell you what colour socks IÂ’ve got on right now, but I can tell you who I was with, everything we did and everywhere we went that night).

I think the most important thing to remember about Andy King is that he became an Evertonian.

Some players arrive, play and leave and thatÂ’s fine, but occasionally a player is bitten by..whatever it is that bit us all.

Andy King played for Everton and became an Evertonian.

Basically, he became was one of us - one of us who got to score a winner in a derby AND...snot Emlyn Hughes.

Andy is our King.

R.I.P

Oh Andy is our King,

Oh Andy is our King,

Oh Andy is our King,

May he RIP and condolences to his family.

KingyÂ’s first Everton incarnation was largely before my time as a match-goer. He became a firm favourite of mine during his second Goodison coming even though a knee injury, and perhaps lifestyle, would temper his play a bit. I was gutted (although probably not as much as he was) when he was not selected in the 12 for the 2 Wembley finals in 1984.

He exited, almost unnoticed, at the end of that season (still only 28) to ply his trade briefly in the backwater of Cambuur in the Netherlands. The next time I saw him playing was in 1986 at Kennilworth Road against the Blues in the FA Cup. In those dark days of the 70s Kingy was one, along with Latchford and Thomas, who lifted the gloom. Thanks Andy.

RIP King Andy.

I remember the day of the derby goal. I was at Sheffield Uni and played a Uni hockey match that day and after that had to run 2 miles to get back in time to watch the goal on MotD to then run a further 2 miles to get to the coach to get to a 12 hour bowling marathon starting midnight. That goal kept me going through all of it!

Condolences to all his family. He was a True Blue great!

Some players arrive at the club and become Evertonians as well as Everton players, that was the case with Andy King he clearly loved the club and its fans and we loved him back for it.

For a young 15 year old in the Gladwys street he wiped out seven years of school based torture from the Reds. I remember every detail of that day and evening.

He might be gone (too soon) but wonÂ’t be forgotten thatÂ’s for certain.

RIP Andy

Let’s not forget his performances at Anfield too. I remember standing on the Kop with about 5,000 other blues and the gobshites were really rubbing it in when they were winning, up stepped the king to silence them. We went berserk.

RIP Andy Lad. There will be a lot of heavy Evertonian hearts tonight

Like so many, he was bitten by the Everton bug and was a lifelong Blue. It is worth buying Looking for the Toffees by Brian Viner, which includes his story together with his Everton teammates like Latchford, Dobson, Thomas, Pejic et al.

Thank you Andy King

He was loved on the terraces . I have a faded memory of our fans singing something to When a child is born to him because of THAT goal.

I always thought he looked like a great bloke who knew how to have a good time, and IÂ’ve always loved that in a player. Not enough of it about in todayÂ’s age of super-professionalism, which personally I think is a shame.

One of my all time favourite players.

RIP

I remember the 78 Derby goal so well, I didnÂ’t have a ticket but remember the excitement of waiting for then watching the match on MOTD. Also being able to go into school on the following Monday and give a bit back to the RS fans.

I canÂ’t believe it. A true blue legend, RIP Andy and sincere condolences to his family.

Very sad news bringing all sorts of stuff we converse over into perspective.

Shoved out the door by that miserable fucker Gordon Lee, and twice we never had the chance to show our appreciation. Andy King gave me the first ever opportunity to go into school and gloat at the RS supporters.

Always a player who delivered away from home as well, the mark of a great player. I'll never forget the away days you gave us, Andy. If my memory serves me right, I am certain he assisted 3 of Latchfords 4 at QPR.

When his playing career ended he went on to become the Manager of my local team Mansfield Town with whom he used to bring his youth team to play our village side pre-season, for whom my brother was the Manager, also an Evertonian so obviously during their conversations the subject of Everton cropped up. During these brief chats, my Brother could tell how passionate and how much he still loved the Blues.

So Andy, thanks for the memories and you will always be my King.

The quote was:
"Where's Kings Drive?"
"It's just past the Clemence Arms."

Actually I now remember Kingy scoring in another game at Anfield - another equalizer I think but I cant find anything on YouTube.

He didnÂ’t need to kiss the badge, because we all knew he loved the shirt,

As Patrick says, condolences to the family,

always in our thoughts Andy.

It was our alehouse of choice before games but after the match, the usual routine was jump an 81 home, egg and chips (one eye on The A team), a quick swill, suited and booted and out.

But after that game there was no going home first, it was straight out and a wonderful night of mayhem.

I saw a feller in Â’The HermyÂ’ that night standing on top of the jukey Â’playingÂ’ a shovel. He was holding it like a guitar and with a two pence piece, strumming the V in the back of it.

When YouÂ’re Smiling never sounded sweeter (even Â’without yer kecks on!Â’)

Great Blue, nice man and a very good player.

Condolences to all his Family & Friends.

Makes King's winner at the Park end all the sweeter.

Thanks for confirming his goals at Anfield. I was beginning to think I was remembering goals that were never scored

Telly strike eh? No wonder... thats some memory youÂ’ve got btw.

Andy would have enjoyed that, he had a lot of fun in him.

Brian Kidd scored the first equaliser, header at the Kop end. I was in the Anfield Road end that day, almost certain it was a early kick-off.

I was a school kid at that game it was the first time I had ever seen Everton beat Liverpool. I was always Andy King in kick abouts.

Such a loss of a true hero. What a legend. I remember him giving kids his slummy on his way in to the ground so that they could pay in to watch him. Imagine today's footballers slipping a kid a few bob to get through the turnstyle...

Absolutely shell-shocked. So young as well.

Rest in peace, Andy lad. God bless you and your family. xxx

I remember Andy playing for Luton and thinking "I wish he played for us". I know Lurch Lee never liked him because he never took anything seriously and used to imitate Lurch behind his back. Like someone else said, when he signed we had no southerners in our team so we found his "cockney" accent really funny and strange, but after a few games Kingy became one of us and we loved him dearly.

ps: IÂ’ve looked at that video several times and I still canÂ’t see myself on the street end. Too many people.

I was 15 when he scored that winner in 1978 and remember to this day the sheer jubilation that I felt.

Andy you will always be remembered by Evertonians.

My best memory of Andy King was on a preseason tour in Belgium. There were a load of us in this bar and Andy showed up. Next thing he was getting chaired around the square. He went straight to the bar, slapped down a wad of notes and bought a round for at least 50 of us.

Top player, top bloke and a true Evertonian. We loved him and he paid us back tenfold.

RIP Andy. YouÂ’ll always be our King.

Anyone remember his 30-yard strike at West Brom the following season.

I am also certain the day he scored 3 against Bristol at Goodison he was wearing trainers on an icy pitch

As a 54-year-old Born Bluenose, Â’KingyÂ’ gave me one of the most joyous occasions as a 17-year-old, when I was able to go home following a very rare derby match win, and savour the moment with my older brother a season ticket holder with the Redshite.

A few years later, I had the pleasure of meeting Â’KingyÂ’ in Â’ShanksÂ’ nightclub in Liverpool where, after he joined me and my family for the evening, and subsequently invited me and my younger cousin over to Bellefield to spend the day meeting the players and then manager (Howard Kendall) and to watch the training session. A moment neither myself or my cousin have ever forgot (can you imagine this type of thing happening nowadays?)

Moments like this is what makes Everton the true "People's Club". RIP Andy a true man of the people who really enjoyed the company of the supporters (thoughts with AndyÂ’s wife Barbara and family).

the left side of Pejic, Dobson and Thomas was even better than Baines/ Pienaar but then we now only play a two as opposed to three.

Midfield three of Dobson, King and Buckley would make these jokers today look pedestrian. And then big Bob Latchford against Lukaku; well, no comparison really

"Some players arrive, play and leave and that's fine, but occasionally a player is bitten by... whatever it is that bit us all."

Correct with the hat trick against Bristol. Good memory for the frozen pitch. Top marks.

As the posts continue to come in, what a lad he must have been.

Thanks for the memories

RIP, Andy King.

Either way the sentiment stands, Peter.

Condolences to Andy's family, thanks for the great memories Kingy a proper character and Evertonian.

God Bless.

What player. Thanks Andy, there was nothing sang louder than "Oh Andy is our King"... youÂ’ll be missed.

RIP, Andy.

R I P Andy King - Everton Legend

Legend. End of. RIP lad.

I guess itÂ’s true what they say: "Once Everton has touched you, youÂ’re never the same." Well Andy certainly touched our lives and for that we shall be eternally grateful.

I still remember listening to that goal on the radio in our house in Walton. I was 11 years old and it was a monumental feeling that we had beaten them.

Those great Everton moments really mark out your life. Andy King made his mark. Always seemed to have a smile on his face.

IÂ’ll remember that goal, that day and that feeling if I live to 100.

I'm quite upset at this news, devastated in fact.

Andy King, thanks for the memories. You will always be a legend of this great club. RIP.

I was in the Main stand, Row D, in line with the 18-yard line. I can still see Clemence reaching and the ball hitting the net; there was a moment of disbelief and then utter exhilaration. I donÂ’t think any goal, or any result ever gave me more pleasure.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

After Bob Latchford he was my favourite player in the 70s – had loads of pictures on my bedroom wall of them both as well as Maryin Dobson, Duncan McKenzie, Dave Thomas, Mick Lyons, Mick Pejic and yes even Terry Darracot, I loved them all, but Andy King was special, very special.

I used to wait outside the main stand as a kid loads of times after the match in search of autographs and he always obliged with a smile on his face, he was made up youÂ’d asked him!

Growing up in the 70s was a nightmare at school as IÂ’d never known us to have beaten that shower until that day in October 1978 when as an 11-year-old he gave me my very first taste of a derby win, oh how I enjoyed school for a few weeks after that!

Enjoyed that era even as much as the 80s for some strange reason, proper players who cared. Most of the prima donnas today arenÂ’t worth the shoelaces of the likes of Andy King

I shared the same birthday (not year!) as him – 14 August, for which I felt privileged – me!!! the same day as the great ANDY KING. As a kid on my birthday I used to look at his picture and say Happy Birthday to him, I absolutely idolised him !

Thanks for the memories Andy, weÂ’ll never forget them.

I have thought of Colin HarveyÂ’s goal at Burnden Park in 1966, KendallÂ’s in 14 seconds against Chelsea in 1970, Heath in 1984 at Highbury, Sharp at Anfield, Trevor Steven against Bayern, Sheedy in Rotterdam, AmoÂ’s second goal at Elland Road in 95, Jags at Wembley, Oviedo at Old Trafford.

And, of course, Andy KingÂ’s in 1978. One of a very, very select bunch.

Those moments, and the pursuit of them, are why we still bother.

Andy King brightened up 70s schooldays made miserable by the success of the RS. He will always remain my favourite Everton player.

Andy is our King!
RIP

My second favourite memory of him was when he was interviewed after the second semi-final of the Milk Cup in 1983. When asked about his mistake which led to VillaÂ’s only goal, which pulled it back to 2-1 on aggregate, the cheeky scamp replied how he wanted to make the game more interesting.

RIP

Andy King

Legend.

"How the fuck do you know Andy King?" My mate spat out."WeÂ’re old mates," I lied.

Sums up the difference between todayÂ’s pampered millionaire scumbags and a true legend, a man delighted to be back at his beloved Everton, who was walking around the ground, taking in the atmosphere, and delighted to be mixing with the fans an hour or so before the game.

Class.

The first time I ever cried at a match was the goal against the RS. IÂ’m a bit vertically challenged and in 1977 I was 13, so we used to get in early to get behind the front wall under the clock in the Street End. When Kingy scored me and my mate Stu went absolutely ape shit, the noise was unbelievable.

Big Bob was my hero then... closely followed by Kingy and Martin Dobson.

Deepest condolences to all of Andy’s family and to all Evertonians around the World – we’ve lost a good 'un.

So sad. RIP

That said we had some top players in that team, Pejic, Dobson, King, McKenzie, Latch and Thomas.

RIP great Blue!

Thanks to Andy, those jokes stopped.

Once again mate, thank you.

sad day for Evertonians, Andy King died yesterday. THAT was it. Half hour to get home and absolutely nothing. But what can you expect from the new rs propaganda dept.

TalkSport, hang your heads in shame you bastards...

I was only eight but I learned a very valuable lesson on that great day. With the match over we was going to the exits and this fella had his head bowwed with his arms over his head. You thought he was a red and went to take the piss until the man told you he was a blue and was overwhelmed with emotion.

I learned how much Everton meant to people that day, and itÂ’s something that has never left me.

GOD BLESS ANDY KING, AND THANKS FOR SOME WONDERFUL MEMORIES WHEN I WAS JUST A SMALL BOY. RIP X

I loved watching players like John Hurst, Jimmy Husband, the trinity, Tommy Wright, etc. And then in the 70s, players like Lyons, Dobson, Latchford, Pejic, and not forgetting McKenzie. Add Andy King to that list. That Everton team of the mid to late 1970s could and should have won trophies. But unfortunately, it was not to be.

Andy King was a very good player. He would have graced most Everton teams over the decades. And his goal against Liverpool will never be forgotten. That goal was what came into my mind this morning. I really cannot stress how much I enjoyed that 70s team. And Andy King was a massive part of that. A neat little footballer, with a real eye for a goal.

Some wonderful comments and tributes on here today. What more can I say. Heres hoping that he is remembered at the start of next season. IÂ’m sure that he will be. RIP Andy King.

RIP Andy King – in thought, deed and spirit a fantastic Evertonian who will never be forgotten.

I thank my dad for taking me and players like Andy King for instantly convincing me that following a football team was worthwhile, and that it should be Everton. Never regretted it since.

A loss to the Everton community, far more to his family to whom I send love.

I recorded it later from MotD on some dodgy cassette player (couldn’t afford VHS back then) and played it over and over for months. I’ll never forget those immortal words...."...it’s going to fall for Andy King..." – the rest is history!

Like most Evertonians of a certain age, I will never forget his goal in the Goodison derby of Â’78 and what it meant for us all. Nor the pitchline interview just after the final whistle, abruptly ended by one of Her MajestyÂ’s finest!

There were tributes to him here in the local paper in Swindon where he managed Swindon Town twice. However, I think there was no doubt where his heart truely lay and IÂ’m sure he will be given a good send off at St Luke's.

God bless you Andy, rest in peace.