Joe Royle - 1965 -1974:

Signed from junior football in 1965 Joe Royle was to become the youngest player to wear the Blue of Everton the following year when he replaced Alex Young for a match in January 1966, away to Blackpool. Unfortunately for Royle there was outrage amongst the fans at Young being left out and he was was left out of the next game and only played once more that season.

Royle had difficulty in winning over the fans at first but when he claimed a regular first team place for the 1967 - 68 season he soon became a crowd favourite. He ended the season as the teams joint top scorer with Alan Ball, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. His goals also helped the club to its second FA Cup final in three season, losing 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion.

The following season saw Royle top the Everton goal chart on his own, scoring 29 goals in total, as the team finished third in the league. The next season, 1969 - 70, was to see Royle win his only major trophy with Everton. He yet again was the club's top scorer and his goals were a major factor in Everton claiming their seventh league title. Season 1970-71 saw Royle continue in good goalscoring form and he was rewarded with the first of his England caps in February 1971 when he made his debut at home to Malta.

During the next four seasons Royle was play in only 66 games due to injury, the worst being a back injury which was hampering his progress. After playing in only eight games of the 1974-75 season Joe Royle was sold to Manchester City for a fee of £200,000, he was only 25. He left City in 1977 after helping them win the League Cup in 1976 and joined Bristol City and then Norwich City. Fittingly he scored his last ever first division goal at Goodison Park while playing for Norwich. Royle retired from playing in 1982 due to a bad knee injury.

In 1994 Joe Royle returned to Everton as manager and in his first season led the club to victory in the FA Cup.

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

League appearances 229 (3), goals 102

FA Cup appearances 23, goals 9

League Cup appearances 14, goals 4

European appearances 6, goals 4

Other Appearances 1, Goals 0