Please follow the link to more Bob Latchford pictures and a brief narrative of his playing career.

Please follow the link to more Mick Lyons pictures and a brief narrative of his playing career.

Martin Dobson - 1974 - 1978:

When Martin Dobson joined Everton it meant that Billy Bingham had to pay a British record cash transfer fee of £300,000 when he moved from Burnley in August 1974 and proved that Everton were determined to force their way out of the mediocrity that they had found themselves in. Bingham had paid a record cash plus player deal a few months earlier to acquire the services of Bob Latchford.

Dobson was a stylish midfielder who had not long won his first England cap and it was seen that his transfer was a major coup. Once settled he became an integral part of the Everton midfield that was to attempt to bring back the good times to the club.

In the five seasons that Dobson played for the club he only missed 20 games but he could not help the team to the elusive trophy. The closest he came to a winners medal was in his first season when the team finished fourth, just three points behind champions Derby County, and then two years later when the FA Cup semi final and League Cup were both reached but lost.

Martin Dobson left Everton at the end of the 1978-79 season and returned to Burnley for a fee of £100,000.

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

League appearances 190 , goals 29

FA Cup appearances 13, goals 2

League Cup appearances 22, goals 8

European appearances 5(1), goals 0

Mark Higgins - 1976 - 1984:

Mark Higgins progressed through both junior and reserve sides at Everton before signing professional terms with the club in August 1976. He made two appearances in his first season as a pro and in his next helped the team to third in the league.

Higgins struggled to establish himself as a first team regular partly due to the competition from more experienced players, such as Mick Lyons, and partly through injury. However his time came during the 1982-83 season when he was made captain following the surprise axing of the then captain Billy Wright.

He only missed three league games that season and was looking forward to a lengthy run in the side when injury was to strike a severe blow. In the fourth round League Cup tie against West Ham United he suffered what was thought to be a groin injury but turned out to be a more serious pelvic disorder. In May 1984 Mark Higgins briefly retired from the game through injury aged 26,

Eighteen months later he defied doctors in order to resurrect his career and in December 1985 signed for Manchester United. He only played 6 times before being transferred to Bury and later moved to Stoke City, he finally retired from the game in 1991 after picking up a back injury while on trial with Burnley.

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

League appearances 150 (1), goals 6

FA Cup appearances 7, goals 0

League Cup appearances 19, goals 0

European appearances 2(2), goals 0

Andy King - 1976 - 1980 & 1982 - 1984:

Andy King began his first spell at Everton at the tail end of the 1975 - 76 season when he joined from Luton Town for a modest fee of £35,000. In only his second game he was on the score sheet twice as the team beat Derby County 3-1. This was to set the tone for his l time with Everton as he was to finish in the top three goal scorers for the club in each season.

His enthusiasm was infectious and like a breath of fresh air into a club striving to return to trophy winning ways. King was a hugely gifted, if erratic, midfielder and his overall level of performances made him a very popular player with the fans.

In October 1978 King scored his most famous goal when he scored the winner against Liverpool at Goodison. Everton had not won a derby for seven years but when his dipping 20 yard volley flew past Ray Clemence those years of hurt were soon forgotten.

Andy King left the club in September 1980 when he joined Queens Park Rangers, were he stayed for just one season. He then moved to West Bromwich Albion for another year before re-joining Everton in July 1982. He spent less than two seasons in this second spell and left during the 1983 - 84 season

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

League appearances 193 (2), goals 49

FA Cup appearances 16 (1), goals 4

League Cup appearances 29 (1), goals 11

European appearances 5, goals 4

John Bailey - 1979 - 1985:

Liverpool born John Bailey joined Everton for £300,000 from Blackburn Rovers in July 1979. In his first season he was an ever present as the team reached the FA Cup semi final but only avoided relegation by just four points.

The next three seasons saw the team improve a little under new manager Howard Kendall but there were no signs of the club returning to winning ways. Bailey continued to play regularly at left-back and during his fifth season with the club he was to play a major part in Everton reaching both the League Cup and FA Cup finals. In May 1984 Everton were to win the FA Cup for the first time since 1966 when they beat Watford 2-0 and at the end of the game John Bailey was to be seen were a huge pair of blue framed glasses as the team did it's lap of honour.

The arrival of Pat van den Hauwe cost Bailey his first team place and he only played a hand full of games during, what was to be, Everton's greatest season. In October 1985 John Bailey moved to Newcastle United and then moved to Bristol City in 1988.

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

League appearances 171, goals 3

FA Cup appearances 22, goals 0

League Cup appearances 20 (1), goals 0

European appearances 6, goals 0

Other appearances 1(1), goals 0