Top 60 Everton Players: #54. Graham Stuart
136 appearances, 22 goals.
Nicknamed Diamond because his best position was at the top of a midfield quartet, Stuart deserves to be on this list solely on the back of his contribution to the 1994 3-2 victory over Wimbledon. Up until the final day, Stuart had scored just once in the league – yet he managed to score twice against Wimbledon – cooly despatching a penalty, and then side-footing past Segers nine minutes from time, amidst bitten-nails and frayed nerves. Stuart saved Everton that year, somehow pulling our heads from the gnashing jaws of relegation. The season after with Joe Royle at the helm, Stuart helped Everton finish in sixth place, just two points behind Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Stuart was neither blessed with pace nor a prolific goalscoring touch, but he played with a heart not present in many players blessed with greater talents than himself.An FA Cup winner, and our saviour in 1994, Graham Stuart retired from football after Norwich City let him go in 2005
Met him at wembley for the final true diamond