Graeme Sharp - 1980 -1991:

Graeme Sharp was brought in by Gordon Lee for a fee of £120,000 when he signed from Dumbarton in April 1980 and made his debut at Brighton and Hove Albion the following month. Great ability in the air and a deft touch on the ground, that belied his size, made him the perfect target-man, and a succession of partners benefited from his lay-offs and flick-ons

Following his debut he spent the the best part of the next 18 months in the reserves. He was handed a starting roll in the team during the 1981-82 season, which ended with him being the club's top scorer with 15 goals. The next season ended the same with Sharp top marksman with 15 goals as the team finished seventh in the league.

During 1983-84 the team found scoring goals a struggle and Sharp only netted 11 times in all competitions. However, one goal was to help Everton to their first trophy win since 1969-70 when he scored the first goal against Watford in the FA Cup final. Normal service was resumed the following season when Sharp scored 21 goals as Everton completed a European and League double.

Even the arrival of Gary Lineker at the start of the 1985-86 season could not prevent Sharp getting his fair share of goals and he ended up with 19 goals. He was being used more as an out and out target man so his goal return took a dip and during the remainder of his Everton career was only the top marksman on one occasion.

Due to his unselfish hold up play Graeme Sharp's goals to games ratio is not brilliant but his number of assists must be immense. Despite this, his goal tally ranks him second in the all time Everton goal scoring list behind the great Dixie Dean.

Graeme Sharp left Everton in 1991 and joined Oldham Athletic, who he later went onto manager. He was to return to Everton as the Fan's Liaison Officer and is still at the club as part of the backroom staff.

Honours won with Everton

League Championship - winners 1985 & 1987, runners-up 1986

FA Cup- winners 1984, runners-up 1985, 1986,1988

European Cup Winners Cup - winners 1985

League Cup runners up - 1984

Charity Shield - 1984, 1985 and 1987, shared 1986

12 Caps with Scotland

Everton playing record (figures in brackets are substitution appearances):

League appearances 306 (16), goals 111

FA Cup appearances 52 (2), goals 20

League Cup appearances 46 (2), goals 15

European appearances 8, goals 4

Other appearances 14 (1), goals 9