Terry Darracott has died, age 71

, 23 March, 2022 44comments  |  Jump to most recent

Former Everton player and coach Terry Darracott has died at the age of 71.

Darracott joined the Blues as an apprentice in 1966 and made his debut aged 17 in a 2-0 win over Arsenal in April 1968. He went on to make 179 appearances for the club.

After leaving Everton in 1979, Darracott enjoyed a short spell with Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States. He then returned to the UK to join Wrexham.

And after retiring from playing following his stint at Wrexham, the full-back moved into coaching, returning to Goodison Park to be part of the club's management team.

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Darracott went on to be part of the backroom team that guided Everton through the halcyon days of the mid-80s. He worked under both Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey.

Following his spell at Everton, Darracott also held coaching positions at Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers. He was then employed as a European scout by Bolton Wanderers.

His last coaching role came at Wrexham, where he was assistant to Dean Saunders. However, he departed in October 2009 due to a long-standing hip problem which restricted his movement in training.

 

Reader Comments (44)

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Mark Ryan
1 Posted 23/03/2022 at 10:09:09
Had his picture on my wall. RIP, Terry.
Dave Abrahams
2 Posted 23/03/2022 at 10:30:57
Phil, nice tribute.

He is one of us is sometimes mentioned when referring to an Everton fan, Terry was definitely one of those people, supported the Blues then played for us and carried on supporting us after he finished playing football, open-handed with a good heart a fine man.

Terry wasn't one of the best players but never let the Blues down he would run through a brick wall for the team, A few players like Terry wouldn't go amiss now although he would certainly embarrass quite a few of them with his 100% effort.

Goodnight and God Bless, Terry: Rest in Peace.

Andrew Ellams
3 Posted 23/03/2022 at 12:03:59
Sad to see that Terry Darracott passed away last night. Terry played on my first visit to Goodison and of course spent time on the coaching staff too.

RIP, Terry.

Danny O’Neill
4 Posted 23/03/2022 at 12:56:47
One of the first Everton player names I remember but I can't comment too much on him as a player from memory.

I'll always remember him putting me at ease and personally looking after me at Bellefield when I had trials. I was nervous as hell. Not just because of where I was; at the time, I was small for my age and surrounded by what I thought were grown men, but were apparently my age group.

The kit reflected that too. Mine was too big and baggy!!

Rest easy, Terry Darracott.

Brian Murray
5 Posted 23/03/2022 at 13:05:13
Alright Danny, my bro. I think 63, a bit older than you, but had trials at Bellefield early '70s with Lyons and Darracott prevalent. I used to go and watch him along with half of Walton. God knows how we got in maybe peeping or climbing the walls of Bellefield.

As I said on another thread, I went to the League Cup Final and two replays in my dad's hackney cab me riding shotgun. Not Terry's finest hour, the second replay, but a real character.

Brian Murray
6 Posted 23/03/2022 at 13:12:58
Was wondering how long it would take Niagra Falls cheeks to get in on the act. Piece in the Echo already.

Does anyone remember Terry's renaissance, very early '80s? I remember going to Cloughies Forest, it was like a home match the fans we had and Darracott was top notch for a golden spell, I recall.

John McFarlane Snr
7 Posted 23/03/2022 at 13:45:34
Terry Darracott wasn't the finest full-back to play for Everton but his commitment to the team was 100%. Today's supporters would no doubt hound the likes of him out of the club.

RIP, Terry.

Jack Convery
8 Posted 23/03/2022 at 13:59:17
RIP Terry. A true blue through and through. Total commitment to the shirt. Something sadly lacking these days.
Eddie McBride
9 Posted 23/03/2022 at 14:25:22
My favourite chant of the seventies,was "Terry's going to get yer" sung to anyone foolish enough to harm one of our players, when Terry was on the pitch.

In some cases, it might take Terry virtually the whole game to get to the offender, but we could rest assured he always would.

Rest in Peace, Terry, a great Evertonian and a wonderful human being.

Barry Shearer
10 Posted 23/03/2022 at 14:29:49
I remember Terry very well. Great Evertonian. RIP Terry.
Tim Gerrard
11 Posted 23/03/2022 at 14:40:37
Remember him playing what was probably his best game at Goodison Park, a 0-0 home draw against Norwich. He marauded up and down the right-hand side of their half.

I think he hit the woodwork twice and come close with another couple of long-range efforts. The Street End sang his name and he was announced the Man of the Match just before the final whistle.

RIP, Barracuda.

Brian Murray
12 Posted 23/03/2022 at 15:06:35
Small world. I just spoke to a fellow trucker in Essex who grew up in Birkenhead. Him and his sister were adopted by Terry and his wife. They are now in their 40s.
Eddie Dunn
13 Posted 23/03/2022 at 15:08:18
He was one of my favourite players when I started attending games in '77. A full-blooded defender who gave his all to the cause.

RIP, Terry.

Peter Mills
14 Posted 23/03/2022 at 15:12:43
Farewell, Terry, a player who would have run through a wall for Everton.

And, from what I have read, and saw at the time, a major contributor to the spirit of the team of the mid-80s.

David Vaughan
15 Posted 23/03/2022 at 15:31:28
Rest well, Terry. One of my first boyhood heroes. Sad day, happy memories.
Rob Dolby
16 Posted 23/03/2022 at 15:41:22
John 6. Pretty harsh on the fans there. How many have we actually hounded out of anywhere?

Back to the op. Darracott was a solid full-back and had the honour of playing top-flight football for the best club in the land.

RIP, Terry.

John Raftery
17 Posted 23/03/2022 at 16:30:10
Tim (10) I remember that Norwich game very well. At one point in the second half Terry was applauded back to the halfway line after one of his efforts on goal. Like Tony Hibbert he never did score for us but he was a wholehearted player. I recall him doing a man to man marking job on George Best on more than one occasion. George never scored in those games.

I also remember Terry's debut in the 1968 game against Arsenal. It was a lovely sunny spring afternoon towards the end of the season, the first full campaign in which Ball, Kendall and Harvey played together along with Joe Royle. Joe scored in that game. Another highlight towards the end of the match was Alan Ball performing his party piece, sitting on the ball near the Park End/Bullens Road corner flag. Great days.

Tim James
18 Posted 23/03/2022 at 17:25:22
RIP Terry. One of my favourite players.
Will Mabon
19 Posted 23/03/2022 at 17:30:12
A strong and committed player that took no crap without actively trying to portray a hard man image like so many of the era.

I thought he was better than sometimes asserted but he did have the occasional head-elsewhere game. I see distant similarities with Seamus Coleman in the way he ran and moved.

Condolences to his family.

Christy Ring
20 Posted 23/03/2022 at 17:47:33
Sad to hear of the passing of Terry, a wholehearted player, who always wore the jersey with pride, and always gave 100%. RIP.
Ron Marr
21 Posted 23/03/2022 at 17:56:17
RIP Terry. You always gave 100%
Dave Williams
22 Posted 23/03/2022 at 18:03:58
An ex player tells the story of being on a post season trip overseas in the mid 80s. Terry was on his way out and asked the hotel receptionist if she had a felt tip pen. Replying in the affirmative she asked why did he need it? Terry told her to write the name of the hotel on his bald head so that later on when he would be too inebriated to recall where he was staying he could just bend down and get a passer by to read out the name of the hotel!
He gave everything to Everton, never less than 100% as a player and was actually a decent enough right back who could also give a good account of himself in midfield.
If only we had a few like him now!
RIP a great Evertonian.
Matthew Williams
23 Posted 23/03/2022 at 18:12:34
I still remember him playing for us when I was still just a nipper...sad news on the back of Gordon Lee passing over too...two real Blues that genuinely cared about our club.

Can the same be said about our current crop...I seriously doubt it...RIP Terry and Thank You.

Phil Wood
24 Posted 23/03/2022 at 18:47:06
RIP, Terry. A truly sad loss. Great attitude and totally committed.

Never shirked a challenge and many a time his tackles lifted the crowd.

Playing style from another era but also a great contributor to EFC in his coaching days.

Thanks for the memories, Terry.

Peter Carpenter
25 Posted 23/03/2022 at 18:55:09
Sad news - all my old favourites. I was too young and thick to know if they were any good or not. I just knew they played for Everton. One of the great hairstyle and moustache combinations of the early '70s there...
Matt Byrne
26 Posted 23/03/2022 at 19:22:45
A sad day. Great for morale in Howard's backroom team.

Andy Gray once told a great story how Terry got someone to write his hotel name and address on his bald head in felt tip prior to a big night out with the lads. If he was too drunk to remember where they were staying, Terry would get back safely! RIP, Terry.

Paul Birmingham
27 Posted 23/03/2022 at 19:43:39
RIP. Terry taken too early from this life but a fine Evertonian.

Times like this with the current apathy in the Everton first-team squad, a Terry Darracott would get the team spirit moving.

Not the most cultured player but he gave 100% when he played football.

That League Cup Final saga with Villa and even now it gets me annoyed to see how Everton succumbed to soft goals that cost us.

But Terry done a decent job at No 3, and poxy year, with the other shower, that year stoked the fuels of angst for years to come until the 1983-1989, period.

And since 1995... the trophy famine continues.

But a fine Evertonian has gone to the Top Balcony in the sky joining a great company of all Evertonians looking down on us today.

Deepest condolences to his Terry's Family and friends.

Julian Exshaw
28 Posted 23/03/2022 at 19:57:13
Sad news. Makes me think of the days when I used to nick my brother's Shoot magazines as a kid and cut out all the Everton pics. Mick Buckley, Ronnie Goodlass, Andy King et al. Terry was one, stuck on my wall with yellowing sellotape. Football from another era. Rest in peace, Terry.
Colin Glassar
29 Posted 23/03/2022 at 20:06:15
Not the most skilful of players but he had heart and always gave his all. He was a bright spot in the very dark years of the early '70s when we went from champions to almost perennial relegation candidates.

Terry, you will be fondly remembered.

John McFarlane Snr
30 Posted 23/03/2022 at 20:28:55
Hi Rob [16]

I may well have been a bit harsh in my opinion of the fans of today, but I was alluding to the fact that I consider the fans of today to be less tolerant than their forebears. I realise that I should have said that, "I think Terry Darracott was blamed for the mistake in the League Cup game at Old Trafford, but as it was prior to the advent of the internet, we probably had a moan or two, nowadays players are expected to be faultless".

With regard to my wording of "Today's supporters would no doubt hound the likes of him out of the club" it was meant to be a 'figure of speech'.

I can think of a number of players who are tied to contracts which may prevent them from cutting their ties. It's my belief that every Everton player has been vilified at some time or other during the season and I find that an alien attitude.

Terry Darracott was a limited player in comparison to some of his peers but he never gave less than his best, I always find it ironic that we have to wait until players pass away before we give them the credit they deserve. RIP, Terry.

Neil Copeland
31 Posted 23/03/2022 at 20:39:54
RIP, Terry, truly a player with blue blood.
Frank Kearns
32 Posted 23/03/2022 at 21:10:36
Always sad to lose an Everton Player, a True Blue Boy☹️
Derek Knox
33 Posted 23/03/2022 at 22:02:46
Sad to see another Evertonian and well remembered ex-player leave us. RIP Terry.
Jim Burns
34 Posted 24/03/2022 at 08:28:38
John @30 - well put sir.
RIP Terry - a blue blooded servant of the club and always left it all on the pitch.
From an era when players and fans were much more a family - for better or worse.
I miss those years so much at the moment.
Condolences to Terry's family.
Tom Bowers
35 Posted 24/03/2022 at 10:23:40
John McFarlane Snr. I agree wholeheartedly.

Terry was, like Mike Lyons a 100% Everton player although limited and exposed on occasions which was indicative of the Everton squad of that era.

Actually that squad was quite a bit more reliable than this lot we have now.

The mistakes being made at the back now are horrendous from players we probably didn't expect it from. The concentration levels are all at sea.

dave long
36 Posted 24/03/2022 at 10:36:15
Terry lived in my street, Sunnymede in Lydiate. His twin boys were terrors and pelted me with snowballs one winter. I got a few decent shots in and they went crying to dad. Terry came roaring at me and called me a big streak of piss! Rip Terry.
Eddie Dunn
37 Posted 24/03/2022 at 20:48:25
Dave - lol!!!
Danny O’Neill
38 Posted 25/03/2022 at 21:35:51
Fine words John Senior.

I hope you're well young man and see you soon!!

John McFarlane Snr
39 Posted 25/03/2022 at 22:31:26
Hi Danny [38] I have my own favourite and also less favoured players, but I regard an Everton result, [win, lose, or draw,] as a combined effort I would take no pleasure from criticising individuals. I'm doing alright at the moment but the current state of affairs is cause for concern. I'm looking forward to the next ToffeeWeb get-together, and the chance to link up with the usual crowd and hopefully some new faces. I'm pleased to say that I have renewed my season ticket irrespective of which division Everton will be operating in.
Joe Bibb
40 Posted 26/03/2022 at 10:44:17
Terry Had A Blue Heart, a Blue Shirt and Blue Blood.
Danny O’Neill
41 Posted 26/03/2022 at 10:56:35
Good to hear John. My membership is seeing me good for home tickets right now and the good will of fellow Evertonians sees me okay for away matches. If I can't make them, my brother takes the burden and my son is home safe next month. They are not quite as blind faith in following Everton as me, but they are both true blue. I'm just a self-confessed fool!!

I'm on the waiting list for a season ticket. As soon as they give me the chance, I'll snap their hands off. Like I say, a fool for better or worse.

Dennis Crowney
42 Posted 28/03/2022 at 13:43:29
Just seen the very sad news of Terry Darracott's passing. How very sad and at a relatively young age, too. He was always a player who gave his all and became a firm fan favourite.

I recall a game in the early 70´s which helped endear him to me and is a great example of a “Me arl fella´s shouts!”. I was in the Paddock, towards the Gwladys St. end, when a player went down injured for a minute or two. The ball was at Terry's feet and he started chatting to another player when a guy near us caught his attention with his shout,

“Hey, Terry. Don't just stand there. Practice!”

A big smile from him as he looked back at the guy and started doing keepy-uppies. A classic at the time.

RIP Terry!

Dennis Crowney
43 Posted 28/03/2022 at 13:47:36
Just seen the very sad news of Terry Darracott's passing. How very sad and at a relatively young age, too. He was always a player who gave his all and became a firm fan favourite.

I recall a game in the early 70´s which helped endear him to me and is a great example of a “Me arl fella´s shouts!”. I was in the Paddock, towards the Gwladys St. end, when a player went down injured for a minute or two. The ball was at Terry's feet and he started chatting to another player when a guy near us caught his attention with his shout,

“Hey, Terry. Don't just stand there. Practice!”

A big smile from him as he looked back at the guy and started doing keepy-uppies. A classic at the time.

RIP Terry!

Steve Clay
44 Posted 03/04/2022 at 18:56:14
One of the most determined players Everton have had. Lovely guy, part of my growing up. RIP, Terry. Love and best wishes to his family.

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