20/02/2025 14comments  |  Jump to last

Everton will induct four new Giants at Goodison Park during the match against Manchester United on Saturday. Andy Gray, Derek Mountfield, Kevin Sheedy, and Paul Bracewell – part of the most successful Everton team in history, during the 84-85 season – will find their place in the club’s Hall of Fame which began in 1999. 

The visit of Man Utd, themed as Giants’ Day, will be a historic occasion as it will be the first time so many players are getting inducted as Everton Giants at once. All four legends will receive their honorary status on the pitch at half-time of the contest.

Every Everton Giant will be immortalised with a specially engraved stone to be laid in the Everton Way at the new stadium in Bramley-Moore Dock which recently hosted the first test event in front of 10,000 fans. The dazzling walkway is made up of 36,000 personalised granite stones.

Gray, Mountfield, Sheedy, and Bracewell will receive replica stones at Goodison Park on Saturday. The four players were part of the Toffees side that won the league title, the Charity Shield, the club’s first European trophy and beat fierce rivals Liverpool thrice.

That team came close to securing an unprecedented treble with Manchester United pipping them in extra-time of the FA Cup Final, barely 66 hours after the European Cup-Winners Cup Final. Gray and Mountfield also won the FA Cup for Everton in 1984.

A huge celebratory banner in honour of the Giants is being planned by the 1878s which will be on display in the Gwladys Street and they’re requesting volunteers for the same on social media! Pin badges portraying the new Giants will be handed out at the Fan Zone and around the Holy Trinity statue before kick-off on Saturday.

 

Reader Comments (14)

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Jimmy Salt
1 Posted 20/02/2025 at 13:50:55
Good stuff but, I think something more than a stone at the new ground would be more appropriate.
Andrew Ellams
2 Posted 20/02/2025 at 15:17:52
What took so long?
Dave Abrahams
3 Posted 20/02/2025 at 15:45:34
Who started the hall of fame and who decided which players were selected, I think Dr. Francis was one of them not sure who else was involved, maybe a reporter from the Echo.

I know I had some written debate with Dr, Francis why Duncan McKenzie was in the hall of fame and Tommy Ring wasn’t although there wasn’t much difference in the amount of games they each played for Everton.

Are there two different types of being acknowledged as a famous Everton Player, Hall of Fame being one and another one with a different name?

Danny O'Neill
4 Posted 20/02/2025 at 16:01:02
I said many times that something fitting should be put in place for that 80s team.

The giants and stone are okay, and recognition, but it would be nice to see something akin to the Holy Trinity. I'm not sure of the name. I've thought the untouchables, because that's what it often felt like at the time.

Mark Murphy
5 Posted 20/02/2025 at 17:25:37
I don't like the "even beat Liverpool thrice" in that list of achievements!

And whilst I loved Duncan McKenzie to the moon and back I'm very surprised to learn he was inducted into the hall of fame - he was brilliant on his day and an entertainer but we won nothing in his brief stay with us.

Kieran Kinsella
6 Posted 20/02/2025 at 18:00:24
Dave

I think you're confusing the Everton Hall of Fame with the Gwlady's street hall of fame which Dr David France does. That one already had Bracewell for example in it as far ago as 2017. Link

I have no clue who does the Everton hall of fame. Sounds like something Kenwright probably started. No doubt he is in it if so.

Danny O'Neill
7 Posted 20/02/2025 at 18:24:19
Same here Mark,

Beating them means a lot, but isn't success. I'll celebrate any victory over them with satisfaction.

Winning 2 league titles, a European trophy and coming very close the a 3rd title and another FA Cup, that would have seen us do the double in 3 seasons was an achievement and I'm fortunate to have witnessed it.

I think only Bracewell missed out on the 86-87 triumph, having not made enough appearances. The forgotten champions. Such an underrated, but classy player. Not underrated by Evertonians I should add.

Touching on what Dave mentions, who does decide the criteria and who makes the decision? Are the FAB involved to gauge the supporters' view. I appreciate that could generate many different opinions, but I feel it could and should be a contributing factor when considering nominations before making a decision.

I've got a stone on the Everton Way, courtesy of my son. It simply says "O'Neill, Dad and Lad".

A generation apart, he has seen little, just glimmers of hope, whereas I enjoyed that period first hand. Thank you for the memories and the great times we enjoyed. Hand it over Liverpool!!

These players and others of that period deserve more recognition at the Everton Stadium.

One last word. Sheedy. You all knew it was coming!!

Liam Mogan
8 Posted 20/02/2025 at 18:37:40
Paul Bracewell could have been the best of the lot of them if he hadn't been crocked by the vile Billy Whitehurst at only 23.

He was never the same player afterwards, esp in his speed and ability to press. Still made about 600 career appearances, but only after remodeling his game as more of a holding player.

For around 18 months he was arguably the most effective box to box, pressing midfielder in the country.

Dave Abrahams
9 Posted 20/02/2025 at 19:36:57
Kieran (6) Yes I thought there was two sets of Everton greats, Kenwright is on the one you have on the link, amazing why isn’t Bernie Wright and a few more like him on the same honours list!
Mark Murphy
10 Posted 20/02/2025 at 19:37:33
It’s not just that Danny, it’s the word “even” making it sound like it’s the pinnacle of that success!
Personally speaking my only regret from that period is that we didn’t beat the bastards more - especially in the cup final(s).
We didn’t stamp our foot on their horrible, asthmatic bony chests as hard as we should have!
UTFT and KAGSEFOOT
Peter Mills
11 Posted 20/02/2025 at 21:49:21
Sorry, but “even beat fierce rivals Liverpool thrice” is pathetic, not something that either of the previous owners of this site would have uttered.

Michael K, use your considerable influence please.

Peter Quinn
12 Posted 20/02/2025 at 22:35:43
Peter, Michael K is back in his inimitable style with the preview to the United game. I am sure our new team will learn a great deal from him. Let us hope he will also be doing the initial report on the game itself!
Brian Wilkinson
13 Posted 21/02/2025 at 02:17:08
With you on that, Liam. Paul Bracewell was on another level, the bad injury stopped him being one of the best midfielders in the world.

You only have to watch the Cup-Winners Cup Final, no one could get near him, spraying passes left right and centre. Such a shame his main attributes were cut short at only 23 years old.

Martin Reppion
14 Posted 21/02/2025 at 11:28:02
Brian, I often cite Bracewell as the best passer of a football I've ever seen. The pass cross field to Trevor Steven for his goal in the rout in the 84/5 season still makes me gasp.
In the more medically aware modern game and with new scanning techniques the bone injury that didn't show up for 18 months would have been found and we would have seen much more of his amazing talent.

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