Kevin Ratcliffe - 1980 -1991:

Kevin Ratcliffe joined Everton in 1977 as a junior and progressed through the youth and reserve sides to make his debut in a 0-0 draw at Manchester United on 12th March 1980. For the next two seasons as Everton looked to put together a winning side, Ratcliffe was in and out of the side and almost left for Ipswich Town following a difference of opinion with manager Howard Kendall. In December 1982 he claimed a regular first team place and within a year was made team captain.

His first season as captain started disastrously with only six wins and 11 goals in the first 21 games, only the league cup was giving some respite. The turn of year year saw a change in Everton's fortunes as the team came back from the dead at Oxford United in the League Cup. By the end of the season Everton had reached both the League and FA Cup finals and finished seventh in the League.

In March 1984 Kevin Ratcliffe led Everton out at Wembley to face Liverpool in the League Cup Final, the game ended in a 0-0 draw and Everton lost the replay 1-0 at Maine Road, Manchester. The disappointment of losing to Liverpool was soon tempered when, in May, Ratcliffe again led the team out at wembley. Goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray saw Everton home against Watford and enabled Rafclitte to become the youngest captain since Bobby Moore to lift the trophy.

The next season, 1984-85, was to see Ratcliffe lead Everton to their most successful season. After winning the league by 13 points from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs he led the team out in Rotterdam to face Rapid Vienna in the European Cup Winners Cup Final. The team ran out 3-1 winners and Ratcliffe became the first Everton captain to lift a European trophy. Three days later Everton were back at Wembley to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final, it proved to be one game to far and the game was lost 1-0.

The following season saw the team runners up in both the FA Cup and the League, disappointingly on both occasions to Liverpool. In 1986-87 Ratcliffe again led Everton to the league title as the team beat off the challenge of Liverpool to become champions for the ninth time.

The next four seasons saw the team drift somewhat and trophies were becoming more and more elusive. In the Spring of 1992 Kevin Ratcliffe left Everton and after spells with Dundee, Cardiff, Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Chester City he went into management and led Chester City to the 1995-96 play-offs.

Kevin Ratcliffe was one of the best central defenders in the country despite not being one of the most giftedof players. He was predominately left footed and his touch on the ball was only average but blistering pace and a gift to read the game remarkably well made up for ant deficiencies. Add strength, bravery, great leadership and a ferocious tackling and you could say you almost had the complete defender.

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

58 Caps with Wales

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

League appearances 356 (3), goals 2

FA Cup appearances 57, goals 0

League Cup appearances 47, goals 0

European appearances 9, goals 0

Other appearances 21 (1), goals 0