21/05/2024 20comments  |  Jump to last

Ian Ladyman in the Daily Mail writes:

"Bob Latchford won the Division One Golden Boot during the 1977-78 season when he scored 30 goals, the most that season, earning himself a prize of £10,000 offered by the Daily Express.

"After missing the start of the 1977-78 season through suspension, Latchford’s first goal of the campaign didn’t come until five games in, a 5-1 win at Leicester City. Thomas provided the assist. Everton went on an 18-game unbeaten run and by New Year’s Eve, Latchford had 19 goals. ‘Annoyingly, we had blown our title chances by losing to Manchester United and Leeds at Christmas but with the goals, the lads had started to believe I could win the £10,000 prize,’ he said.

"When it got to the last day of the season, Latchford still needed two goals. Everton were at home to Chelsea. Assured of third place, the only thing at stake was Latchford’s prize.

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"Though Everton took control, going 3-0 up, that crowd had to wait until the 72nd minute for Latchford to get goal number 29, fittingly a header from a Thomas corner. He was poised to score the next one only for defender and captain Mike Lyons to steam in front of him and head the ball in for Everton’s fifth.

"Lyons came up again only to be felled by Chelsea defender Micky Droy. Referee Peter Willis gave a penalty and Latchford took the ball. Martin Dobson came over and said 'just hit the target'.

'The cacophony of noise as it went in was incredible. There were pensioners running on the pitch. It was probably one of the greatest achievements of my life.

'I was sorry I ever won the money. Half went to the PFA pool and I split £4,000 among the staff. I kept £1,000. The taxman didn’t believe I’d given it away so chased me for it. I had to get accountants involved and they got the players to send letters to prove it. Even then the revenue came back and taxed me on the £1,000. It actually cost me more to resolve it. I wish I’d given it all to charity.'

» Read the full article at Mail Online

Reader Comments (20)

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Ian Jones
1 Posted 21/05/2024 at 08:19:51
Latchford and that team provided some great memories. These days there would be a whole army of people at the Club and agents advising how to distribute the money to reduce tax implications!
John Pickles
2 Posted 21/05/2024 at 08:57:46
Sorry Ian, would you take financial advice from anyone at this club at the moment?
Ian Jones
3 Posted 21/05/2024 at 09:15:42
John, I was wondering what comments would come after my post - and the answer to your question is no.

:)

Peter Mills
4 Posted 21/05/2024 at 09:16:54
Mick Lyons' goal was the only Everton goal I can remember being booed at Goodison!
Mark Murphy
5 Posted 21/05/2024 at 09:48:37
That Leicester away game was a joyous day in the sun. One of my favourite games.
Peter Mills
6 Posted 21/05/2024 at 11:25:32
Mark. The 5-1 win at QPR a few weeks later was one of mine.
Jack Convery
7 Posted 21/05/2024 at 11:41:12
Dave Thomas, ex Burnley! What a winger and a crosser of the ball. I'm surprised Latchford didn't make sure he got home safe after every game and have him tucked up in bed.
Roger Helm
8 Posted 21/05/2024 at 16:05:41
What great players we had back then - Latchford, Thomas, Dobson, King, McKenzie et al. This was the first Everton side I followed. Came close but never won a trophy. What would Latchford be worth in today's money!
Paul Washington
9 Posted 21/05/2024 at 18:47:59
Next to me dad, Latchford is my all-time hero. I saw 22 of the 30 goals and legged it on the pitch at the end of game and hugged him!!

Met him at St Luke's when he did the book about the 30-goal season, there was tears in my eyes – my son wasn't impressed!!

Christy Ring
10 Posted 21/05/2024 at 20:45:28
I remember reading Bob's book and he said they would have won the league if Bingham had taken things easier later in the season. He ran them into the ground in training, and they totally ran out of steam.
Ken Kneale
11 Posted 21/05/2024 at 21:04:26
This group came annoyingly close to a trophy but for various reasons from, as Christy says, the manager being one-dimensional in his coaching to a couple of years later, a certain Clive Thomas and a perceived 'infringement'.

The players deserved better for their service – many would walk into today's squad for sure.

Peter Mills
12 Posted 21/05/2024 at 21:38:24
Bob also said that, had we signed Peter Shilton, we would have won the league. I agree.
David Currie
13 Posted 21/05/2024 at 22:02:09
Loved Latchford and all those players. We would have won trophys with a top keeper. Lawson and Davies were not good enough. We would have played in the 1977 FA Cup Final but for one horrible cheating bastard who I will always hate!!
Tom Hughes
14 Posted 22/05/2024 at 10:05:06
Christy #10,

Gordon Lee was the manager when Bob scored his 30th.

Martin Farrington
15 Posted 22/05/2024 at 10:13:54
I was there and it was never a penalty. From that day forth, our penalty claims have all been seen as bogus.

[Said tongue-in-cheek.]

Andrew Clare
16 Posted 22/05/2024 at 10:53:41
So many exceptional players in that team. I remember us winning at Villa 2-1 in August '77 Duncan McKenzie scored both goals. I said to my Dad “We're going to win the league this season!” We didn't but we should have.

We had class players throughout the team and we were exciting to watch. The combination of a deadly striker and a top-class winger made all the difference.

Certainly one of the best Everton sides in the modern era.

Sean Mitchell
17 Posted 22/05/2024 at 11:18:58
The tax man robbing people even in the '70s.
Paul Tran
18 Posted 23/05/2024 at 20:57:36
My first season as a season ticket holder. A wonderful climax to a thoroughly enjoyable season.
Danny O’Neill
19 Posted 23/05/2024 at 21:33:05
Alongside Duncan McKenzie, the first players that I idolised at at young age. He was my older cousin's favourite. The nearly team.

Great to see him looking well. Get him to Goodison to put one in then net.

Brian Wilkinson
20 Posted 24/05/2024 at 14:10:13
I have a feeling our final home game at Goodison might see the likes of Latchford, McKenzie etc and the likes of the eighties team doing a pitch parade, what a way to say goodbye to the old lady, with those icons there.

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