Howard Kendall funeral date set

A great bloke who is well respected in the football world. I was lucky to have witnessed those 80s glory years.

It would be nice to rise to those heights once again, we can all live in hope.

I've written to two sports 'celebrities' in my life. The first was to Richie Benaud after he'd announced his retirement. I wrote to him to thank him for being the calm rational voice of my cricket summers and with good grace he responded. The second letter I wrote was to Howard Kendall when I was a 23-year-old. That wasn't such a nice letter.

I first watched Howard Kendall when him, Harvey and Ball formed the classiest Everton midfield I was to ever experience (and probably ever will). I was 11 in 1970, when Everton won the league and in those days troops of 11-year-olds (and younger!) would still go the game in numbers and unsupervised without it becoming a child neglect issue. (In fact, the only dilemma I'd ever face on match days was whether to spend my bus fare home on a bag of chips and a walk back to Huyton or risk a clip around the head by the conductor for bunking on the bus.) I still remember the brilliance of that midfield, though through the haze of 50 years.

In 1981 Kendall rejoined Everton as manager and at first the signs were not promising. By 1982-83, tempers were frayed and the ‘Kendall Out!' chants became a small but significant presence at home games. After one particularly disappointing game I reached for the Basildon Bond and fountain pen (blue ink not green) and poured out all of my frustrations to the manager.

I can't remember the wording of the letter, but the gist was that I wasn't happy with his management, he wasn't motivating the players, they were lazy and I was particularly scathing of our young Welsh left-back, who was the most useless defender I ever had the misfortune to watch. I ended the letter that, if I was ever given the chance to play for Everton, you'd need the trainer to carry me off the field as I'd have used every last drop of energy during the game.

He responded. He offered me a trial.

I took the opportunity and as a not very good alehouse player was so far out of my depth it was embarrassing. After it, he treated me to lunch, a tour of the facilities and the chance to meet the players - he offered me tickets for the next Everton home game, which I declined as I was a season ticket holder already, so he arranged for me to have two tickets sent to my address for Everton's next away game (Arsenal). He never mentioned the letter I'd written once except to say as we parted – 'You see (Sid), we are trying our best.'

The manager I roundly castigated went on not only to win my respect but to become the most successful manager in Everton's history. The Welsh left-back I was scathing about was Kevin Ratcliffe, playing out of position, who became Everton's most successful captain and certainly the quickest central defender I ever watched.

So thanks Howard wherever you are for the best 10 footballing years of my life both watching you as a player and your first spell as a manager. Most of all from a very personal note - thanks for teaching me the value of humility.

I'll be there next Thursday - just to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and to wish the man - rest in peace - your work here is done.

Link

RIP, Howard. Thanks for the memories, some of the best moments of my life.

Some cup silverware this year would be a fitting tribute and a holy trinity statue next to Dixie!

I met Howard back in the glory days. His son was in my brother's football team. Obviously he was as nice as all the fans have said. Consequently, it's left me feeling really sad.

I probably won't drag my family halfway across the country but who knows. Anyway, if we don't give a guy like him – a real, true, unarguable gent of the highest order – a good send off, what class do we have?

On the other hand, Howard was such a great guy, he probably wouldn't have wanted too much fuss. It would be nice if we won a game sometime soon. I think he would have liked that.

Of all of these, I favoured Kendall who was the glue for the team and the best midfielder never to have been capped. He was unfortunate to be around at the same time as Alan Mullery who was less talented but possibly a bit more ruthless than Howard. However, Howard was the man for me.

Track on several years later after I had stopped going to Goodison as I played pretty low level local football and then took up refereeing.

My schoolboy idol worship then came to catch me up after I moved to North Wales where a charity match was organised in Llandudno following bad flooding in 1993. Neville Southall was able to arrange for an Everton team to come to play and, although I wasn't refereeing regularly then, I was in a position to influence the match arrangements so I refereed the match.

I was like a kid in a sweet shop – big Nev in goal, team mates were Harvey, Gabriel and Kendall. I can't remember the rest but 4 greats were enough for me.

Sadly Everton lost 3-2 despite the award of a dodgy penalty by me in the last minute! The Angel Gabriel's attempt was saved by Lee Williams and whilst I did think of saying it should be retaken, I would have pushed my luck!

My other undying memory of the match was of Howard Kendall coming to speak to me in the first half about a local lad in the Llandudno side who was 'putting himself about'. He said that he was unhappy with the lad's attitude and would I do anything or would he. I left him to it and didn't see what happened but it had an effect!! Great skill.

After the game, a reception was being held but big Nev had said things needed to be ready at the time the coach pulled up otherwise Howard and others would have a few drinks and would 'lose' track of time. Sure enough, there was a delay so the bus party happened.

The point I am trying to make is that, from boyhood hero to seeing skills albeit after his playing career and how he approached a friendly game to how he enjoyed himself, seems to back up other recollections of Howard's approach to football and life.

I feel privileged to have been involved in a small way.

RIP Howard Kendall.

Thanks too to Graham 4 for a truly fantastic post.

I was surprised that there was nothing from Mr Kenwright; following Dave Hickson's death, he was one of the first to offer his memories of the "Cannonball Kid". There have been rumours of an illness, but nothing from the club. I wonder if he will attend the funeral on Thursday?