Colin Harvey
Encyclopedia
Colin Harvey is a retired English
footballer who is best known for his time as a player, coach and manager with Everton
. He is married to Maureen and lives in Aughton, Lancashire
.
as an apprentice in 1960. Harvey was often described as an elegant and skilful player and was nicknamed the "White Pele" by Everton fans. "A beautiful footballer this boy" commented Kenneth Wolstenhome during the 1968 FA Cup Final, while Goal Magazine called him "a delightful player to watch". The 'White Pele' nickname came about because of his natural ability, grace and technique:
"It was when I made my debut for Sheffield Wednesday at Bolton. My dad had brought me back and I got a few phone calls asking how the game had gone, and someone told me that there was a banner at the Park End at Goodison saying something about me and the white Pele – it was a very proud moment for me! For someone to say that about you comparing you to probably the best player that ever played the game is really unbelievable. To think that people thought that much of me was hard to believe."
Stadium. He became a first team regular during the 1964-65 season
.
Of the occasion he said: "[I found I was playing] on the afternoon of the game. We had lunch and then we had a team meeting. Harry Catterick said there would be only one change. He said “Denis Stevens – you move to number 4 and Colin Harvey goes to number 8” This was all because Gabby was injured at the time. It was as simple as that! I just gasped, I didn’t have a clue that I was going to play – it was a great way of doing it, he didn’t give me a chance to think about it, I just had to go out there and play! I thought no-one was going to expect too much of me, I just went out there and done my best and I did okay."
and Howard Kendall. Widely regarded as the best midfield of their generation, they were the key components of Everton's Football League First Division
winning team in the 1969/70 season captained by Brian Labone
. In an interview in the late 1970s, Harry Catterick claimed that in terms of "skill and ability, Colin was the best of the three". Of the late 1960s/early 70s Everton side, George Best said "they were a delight to watch and indeed play against." It was in fact Harvey's superb solo goal which clinched the title at Goodison Park vs West Brom which has been described as one of the best ever goals to win the league championship.
winning team, scoring the winning goal in the Semi Final against Manchester United. Harvey also played in the 1968 team that also reached the FA Cup final who lost the game against underdogs West Bromwich Albion. Harvey was also a key member of the 1970 League Championship winning side. While at Everton he made 384 appearances (4 as substitute) and scored 24 goals.
where he played for 13 months before retiring because of a persistent hip injury.
against Malta in a European Championship qualifier in 1971. When asked by an Independent Everton website whether he felt he should have won more caps for England, he said:
"In my honest opinion yes I do, it was difficult because Alf Ramsey played England like a club side and he picked players who’d done well for him over the years. Some were top players who had won the world cup and reached the quarter finals in 1970. Give him his due in that respect but I always hoped I would have got more and I believed that I should have done. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be but the fact I did I play for England is a great honour and one I will remember.".
Colin was first called into the squad in 1969 for England's South American Tour and made his international debut in a 4-0 win over Mexico. It was only after he arrived home that he realised this was unofficial. In late 1969 a serious eye injury kept him out of contention for two months and his absence was felt hardest by Everton as their results suffered without their deep-lying playmaker. By the time he returned Alf Ramsey's Mexico World Cup squad was virtually picked, meaning Colin had to wait a further year to pick up his solitary cap.
invited Harvey back to Everton to become Youth Coach. This was a role in which he was successful, winning the 1977 Youth Cup in a side featuring future stars Kevin Ratcliffe
and Steve McMahon
.
Harvey was promoted to reserve team coach in 1981 at the same time that Howard Kendall became manager.
In 1983, Harvey was promoted to first team coach, which coincided with the beginning of Everton's most successful period in their history in the mid-1980s (two Championships
, FA Cup
and a European Cup Winners' Cup). Indeed, many ex-Everton players including striking partners Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp, cite Harvey's promotion to first team coach as the main reason for the team's reversal of fortune and the great success that followed. Colin was appointed manager of Everton in June 1987 after the departure of Howard Kendall. During his spell as Manager, Everton finished 4th, 8th and 6th respectively in the old First division and also reached the 1989 FA Cup Final losing 3-2 to Liverpool. Harvey's time as manager ended on 31 October 1990, when he was sacked as manager of an Everton side which stood 18th of 20 sides in the First Division - their worst-ever start to a league season. On 7 November 1990, Everton appointed Howard Kendall
as their new manager and Harvey returned to Goodison Park
in the old manager-coach partnership.
Harvey left Everton shortly after Kendall's departure in December 1993, and in November 1994 became assistant to Oldham Athletic's new player-manager Graeme Sharp
following the departure of Joe Royle
to Everton. Sharp left Oldham in March 1997, and Harvey followed him out of the Boundary Park
exit door, but was soon back in the game as Burnley
assistant manager to Adrian Heath
, however after just a matter of months he was appointed Everton's youth coach when Howard Kendall became manager for a third time.
As youth coach, Harvey was once again successful in winning the FA Youth Cup in 1998. During his spell as Youth Coach, Harvey nurtured the talents of England internationals Francis Jeffers
and Wayne Rooney
, where once again the Youth Team progressed to the Youth Cup Final in 2002.
recognising his remarkable achievement of playing, coaching and managing at every level within the club during 40 years of almost continuous service to Everton Football Club.
In 2005, Harvey released an autobiography called "Everton Secrets", written with BBC Radio Merseyside presenter John Keith. He also had a weekly column with the Daily Post entitled "Talking tactics". He currently also presents a weekly round up of the English Premier League on GNB Radio 2 UAE prior to the Premier League commentary.
Evertonians have nominated Colin Harvey for an MBE for over forty years worth of service to Everton F.C.
who were managed by former Everton midfielder Gary Megson
at the time. Harvey has helped to bring a number of UK and foreign based players to the Reebok Stadium
including Grétar Steinsson
, Tamir Cohen
, Matthew Taylor
and Gary Cahill
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who is best known for his time as a player, coach and manager with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He is married to Maureen and lives in Aughton, Lancashire
Aughton, Lancashire
Aughton is a village and civil parish within the West Lancashire district of Lancashire, England, situated between Ormskirk in Lancashire and Maghull in Merseyside. It is a residential area with tree lined roads being found in all parts of the parish and with an area of 1,658 hectares...
.
Playing career
Harvey was born in Liverpool and joined EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as an apprentice in 1960. Harvey was often described as an elegant and skilful player and was nicknamed the "White Pele" by Everton fans. "A beautiful footballer this boy" commented Kenneth Wolstenhome during the 1968 FA Cup Final, while Goal Magazine called him "a delightful player to watch". The 'White Pele' nickname came about because of his natural ability, grace and technique:
"It was when I made my debut for Sheffield Wednesday at Bolton. My dad had brought me back and I got a few phone calls asking how the game had gone, and someone told me that there was a banner at the Park End at Goodison saying something about me and the white Pele – it was a very proud moment for me! For someone to say that about you comparing you to probably the best player that ever played the game is really unbelievable. To think that people thought that much of me was hard to believe."
Debut
Harvey made his debut in 1963, aged 18, against Italian giants Inter Milan in a European Cup tie in the chaotic San SiroSan Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
Stadium. He became a first team regular during the 1964-65 season
1964-65 in English football
The 1964–65 season was the 85th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* After a three-way tussle for the League title between Manchester United, Leeds United and Chelsea, Manchester United came out on top and were crowned champions....
.
Of the occasion he said: "[I found I was playing] on the afternoon of the game. We had lunch and then we had a team meeting. Harry Catterick said there would be only one change. He said “Denis Stevens – you move to number 4 and Colin Harvey goes to number 8” This was all because Gabby was injured at the time. It was as simple as that! I just gasped, I didn’t have a clue that I was going to play – it was a great way of doing it, he didn’t give me a chance to think about it, I just had to go out there and play! I thought no-one was going to expect too much of me, I just went out there and done my best and I did okay."
Holy Trinity
Harvey became a part of the famous midfield trio known as the "Holy Trinity" with Alan BallAlan Ball (footballer)
Alan James Ball, Jr., MBE was a professional English footballer and football club manager.He was the youngest member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team and played for various clubs, scoring more than 180 league goals in a career spanning 22 years...
and Howard Kendall. Widely regarded as the best midfield of their generation, they were the key components of Everton's Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
winning team in the 1969/70 season captained by Brian Labone
Brian Labone
Brian Leslie Labone was an English footballer who played for and captained Everton. A one-club man, Labone's professional career lasted from 1958 to 1971, during which he won the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup once...
. In an interview in the late 1970s, Harry Catterick claimed that in terms of "skill and ability, Colin was the best of the three". Of the late 1960s/early 70s Everton side, George Best said "they were a delight to watch and indeed play against." It was in fact Harvey's superb solo goal which clinched the title at Goodison Park vs West Brom which has been described as one of the best ever goals to win the league championship.
Honours
He played in the 1966 FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winning team, scoring the winning goal in the Semi Final against Manchester United. Harvey also played in the 1968 team that also reached the FA Cup final who lost the game against underdogs West Bromwich Albion. Harvey was also a key member of the 1970 League Championship winning side. While at Everton he made 384 appearances (4 as substitute) and scored 24 goals.
Moving On
Harvey left Everton in 1974 to join Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
where he played for 13 months before retiring because of a persistent hip injury.
England Material
Harvey was capped once for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
against Malta in a European Championship qualifier in 1971. When asked by an Independent Everton website whether he felt he should have won more caps for England, he said:
"In my honest opinion yes I do, it was difficult because Alf Ramsey played England like a club side and he picked players who’d done well for him over the years. Some were top players who had won the world cup and reached the quarter finals in 1970. Give him his due in that respect but I always hoped I would have got more and I believed that I should have done. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be but the fact I did I play for England is a great honour and one I will remember.".
Colin was first called into the squad in 1969 for England's South American Tour and made his international debut in a 4-0 win over Mexico. It was only after he arrived home that he realised this was unofficial. In late 1969 a serious eye injury kept him out of contention for two months and his absence was felt hardest by Everton as their results suffered without their deep-lying playmaker. By the time he returned Alf Ramsey's Mexico World Cup squad was virtually picked, meaning Colin had to wait a further year to pick up his solitary cap.
Managerial career
Following his retirement from the game in 1976, Billy BinghamBilly Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
invited Harvey back to Everton to become Youth Coach. This was a role in which he was successful, winning the 1977 Youth Cup in a side featuring future stars Kevin Ratcliffe
Kevin Ratcliffe
Kevin Ratcliffe is a former Welsh footballer who spent most of his career playing for Everton. He was born in Mancot, near Queensferry in North Wales.-Club career:...
and Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
.
Harvey was promoted to reserve team coach in 1981 at the same time that Howard Kendall became manager.
In 1983, Harvey was promoted to first team coach, which coincided with the beginning of Everton's most successful period in their history in the mid-1980s (two Championships
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and a European Cup Winners' Cup). Indeed, many ex-Everton players including striking partners Andy Gray and Graeme Sharp, cite Harvey's promotion to first team coach as the main reason for the team's reversal of fortune and the great success that followed. Colin was appointed manager of Everton in June 1987 after the departure of Howard Kendall. During his spell as Manager, Everton finished 4th, 8th and 6th respectively in the old First division and also reached the 1989 FA Cup Final losing 3-2 to Liverpool. Harvey's time as manager ended on 31 October 1990, when he was sacked as manager of an Everton side which stood 18th of 20 sides in the First Division - their worst-ever start to a league season. On 7 November 1990, Everton appointed Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. He is most famous for his connection to Everton, a club that he both played for and managed. His uncle Harry Taylor played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s....
as their new manager and Harvey returned to Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
in the old manager-coach partnership.
Harvey left Everton shortly after Kendall's departure in December 1993, and in November 1994 became assistant to Oldham Athletic's new player-manager Graeme Sharp
Graeme Sharp
Graeme Marshall Sharp is a former footballer. He started his playing career at Dumbarton before signing for Everton for £120,000 in 1980....
following the departure of Joe Royle
Joe Royle
Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team...
to Everton. Sharp left Oldham in March 1997, and Harvey followed him out of the Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
exit door, but was soon back in the game as Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
assistant manager to Adrian Heath
Adrian Heath
Adrian Paul Heath is an English football manager and former player. He manages American USL Pro Orlando franchise. As a player he is remembered as part of the Everton side of the 1980s, where he won several trophies...
, however after just a matter of months he was appointed Everton's youth coach when Howard Kendall became manager for a third time.
As youth coach, Harvey was once again successful in winning the FA Youth Cup in 1998. During his spell as Youth Coach, Harvey nurtured the talents of England internationals Francis Jeffers
Francis Jeffers
Francis Jeffers is an English football striker who currently plays for Newcastle United Jets in the A-League. In his career Jeffers has played for Barclays Premier League teams Everton and Arsenal...
and Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, where once again the Youth Team progressed to the Youth Cup Final in 2002.
Retirement
He retired in 2003 due to ongoing hip problems, and was granted a testimonial against Italian side Bologna FCBologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
recognising his remarkable achievement of playing, coaching and managing at every level within the club during 40 years of almost continuous service to Everton Football Club.
In 2005, Harvey released an autobiography called "Everton Secrets", written with BBC Radio Merseyside presenter John Keith. He also had a weekly column with the Daily Post entitled "Talking tactics". He currently also presents a weekly round up of the English Premier League on GNB Radio 2 UAE prior to the Premier League commentary.
Evertonians have nominated Colin Harvey for an MBE for over forty years worth of service to Everton F.C.
Return with Bolton
In November 2007 he came out of retirement to become the new chief scout at Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
who were managed by former Everton midfielder Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
at the time. Harvey has helped to bring a number of UK and foreign based players to the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
including Grétar Steinsson
Grétar Steinsson
Grétar Rafn Steinsson is an Icelandic footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:He started his career with local team KS in Siglufjörður and later played for ÍA Akranes before going abroad to play professionally for Swiss club BSC Young Boys.On 2 July 2007, AZ Alkmaar announced they...
, Tamir Cohen
Tamir Cohen
Tamir Cohen is an Israeli football midfielder who plays for Maccabi Haifa. He is the son of the late Maccabi Tel Aviv and Liverpool player Avi Cohen.-Early career:Cohen started his career in Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth team where in 2001–02 he won the double...
, Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor (footballer)
Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:...
and Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...
.
Playing Honours
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19661966 FA Cup FinalThe 1966 FA Cup Final was a football match played on 14 May 1966. It was contested by an Everton team that was the first team to reach an FA Cup Final without conceding in the preceding rounds and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.... - Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Champions: 1969/70 - FA Charity Shield winner: 1970
- FA Charity Shield runner up: 1966
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 19681968 FA Cup FinalThe 1968 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Everton at Wembley. West Brom won by a single goal, scored by Jeff Astle three minutes into extra time. The goal meant that Astle had scored in every round of that season's competition....
Managerial Honours
- FA Charity Shield winner: 1987
- Full Members CupFull Members CupThe Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
finalist: 1989 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalist: 1989