Neville Southall MBE (1981-98)
578 appearances
“It was my first signing, and my best, in his prime, Neville was the best keeper in the world.” – Howard Kendall
The bulky Nev of later years (although as a former hod-carrier, he was always a big man) repelled wave after wave from Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup Final and the earlier, supremely elastic ‘keeper of the mid 1980s was the world’s best. Such was Everton’s domestic supremacy in 1985 that they gobbled up 60 per cent of all votes for the writers’ footballer of the year, with a deserving Nev eventually winning the award. Southall is the best Everton ‘keeper of all time, and won two Championship medals, two FA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup, made a staggering 578 appearances for Everton (easily a Blue record), and has won more games than any other Toffee. After winning his second FA Cup, this porcine footballing perfectionist will be remembered for leaving to be with his wife and kids rather than join the celebrations.
Neville Southall is the reason i began to support Everton when i was a kid. Greatest goalkeeper of all time, and this would be the consensus view if he played for england and not wales. Nev would have had shilton on the bench. LEGEND!!