Sad to hear news about Andy King’s sudden death. I remember many moons ago Witton played Everton in a pre-season friendly at the hallowed Central Ground and at the last minute, Everton announced Andy King would appear as he was coming back from an injury (or something like that).
I was running the line (did you ref GE?) and there were hundreds of Everton fans hanging from the rafters. Not sure there was an official attendance, as I think most of them climbed over the walls. I remember being slightly nervous :silly:
No age for a fit fella. Great footballer, scored a hell of a goal in a Derby game if I remember rightly.
WHS.
I remember that game Eddie. Wasn’t it arranged as part of the deal that took Mark Leonard to Goodison? They brought the full first team down and beat us 5-0, Mark Leonard came off the bench.
I remember Howard Kendall who was their manager at the time, arrived late and had to come in through the turnstiles! And after the game, their skipper Mark Higgins and a few other players queued up for fish and chips in the chip box. Imagine today’s premiership players doing that!
Good knowledge there Wheels! Was that from memory? If so, I’m impressed
7th August 1982 and Everton won 5-0 with goals from Andy King (RIP), Graeme Sharp 2, Kevin Richardson and Mark Leonard.
The game was indeed agreed as part of the deal that had taken Leonard from Witton to Everton in February 1982. Although I don’t think he played a 1st team game (thanks to Steve at the Everton - Results Website)
I was wrong when I said Andy was coming back from injury, he was in fact returning to Everton after spells at QPR and WBA (what ever possessed him to go there!)
Cracking player and of course, much loved by Evertonians
RIP Andy King
I recollect us playing Everton in a Pre Season Friendly as part of the Mark Leonard transfer Eddie. I’m not certain whether we played them on any other ocassion but I’m sure that someone will have that information, possibly CHAD.
It would be interesting to see the two team lineups from that game.
The Everton game must have been a season or two before I started watching the Albs as I don’t remember it or Mark Leonard. What position did he play and was he a local player? RIP Andy King.
Mark Leonard was a centre forward from St. Helens he was very quick and had a very good finish on him, we sent him on trial to Everton but as he didn’t drive he fell trying to catch the bus whilst going to training and broke his leg in the middle of his trial, however Everton stuck with him and let him recover to continue his trial but I suspect the break affected him and he never seemed to be the same player but he did go on to have a decent career but not at Everton, having most success at Bradford and Chester, he was a really nice lad and one of my favourites.
Mark’s career after his brief stay at Everton, saw him wear the colours of Crewe Alex, Chester, Bury, Bradford City, Stockport County, Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Preston & Rochdale.
His career was ended by a knee injury while he was at Rochdale. Following his retirement, he began playing Crown Green Bowls as a county player for Merseyside.