"Sir Dobbo"

49. Martin Dobson

190 appearances, 29 goals

“I think you learn more from failure than you do from success. I was  and I was totally devastated. You just got a letter in those days – ‘Thank you, you’re crap, goodbye’” – Dobson on being rejected by Bolton as a youngster.

Bolton Wanderers must still be kicking themselves for rejecting Martin Dobson when he was a teenager. Unbelievably, he is the second high profile Evertonian to be shown the door marked “gerrout!” by Bolton, the first being Alan Ball.

Dobbo was a tall, gracile midfield player with excellent technique who was bought from Burnley by Billy Bingham in 1974, for a record British transfer fee. The £300,000 that Everton spent on him provoked questions about whether money was beginning to rule the sport, questions which have never stopped.

Dobson won won five caps for England under three different managers; Sir Alf Ramsey, Joe Mercer, and Don Revie.

Dobson had excellent close control which aided his wonderful shooting and passing, and when he was in possession of the ball he was neither hurried nor wasteful. The latest Everton starlet to make it into the first team, Jack Rodwell, has been compared to Dobson – and he should take it as a huge compliment.