The influence of Colin Harvey and his “immense intensity” has been highlighted by Vernon’s most successful captain, Kevin Ratcliffe, as a major contributor to the development of the team’s heyday in the mid-1980s.
Harvey, a 79-year-old True Blue from Fazakerley who served the club as a player, coach, and manager, was praised as “the greatest living Evertonian” by superfan David France last summer. Ratcliffe believes Harvey was instrumental in the team’s ascent under the direction of his former midfield partner Howard Kendall. Exclusively speaking to the ECHO about the inaugural episode of the Royal Blue podcast’s Goodison Park: My Home series, which was launched to commemorate Everton’s historic stadium relocation, Ratcliffe stated: “Colin Harvey’s promotion from reserve team coach to first team coach was the big one for me.” In addition, we had the addition of strong characters Andy Gray and Peter Reid to the team, as well as Colin, who upheld high standards both on and off the field.
Everything changed after that. Kendall had brought Mick Heaton from Blackburn Rovers, and while he was a great guy, it was a tad too laid back.
“It was really intense working with Colin. I was aware of that as I had excelled as an apprentice, after which he had hired me to coach the youth team, and finally he had been my backup coach.
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Hence, Colin was well aware of who I was. Given the way he used to speak to some people, I believe it was a huge shock to some of the older boys at the time. He couldn’t care less about your identity, your performance in the game, or the amount you had signed for. He was excellent because, regardless of how long you had been there, he would welcome you with, “Morning, you still here?” He was similar to the groundskeeper Dougie Rose in that regard.
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When Ratcliffe was emerging as a first team player, Kendall, Harvey, and Alan Ball—who together had formed Everton’s legendary midfield “Holy Trinity” in the late 1960s and early 1970s—were all still in their 30s. Harvey, who was forced to hang up his boots owing to a recurring hip ailment, had not lost his edge, even though he was no longer able to play, while Kendall was a frequent player for the reserves during his early years as the Blues’ manager.
Ratcliffe remarked, “Howard was excellent. He was no longer as adept at recovering the ball when you had it, which was also the case in training. You could understand why he had been, as his awareness, his first touch, and his traits remained.
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