My seventies adventure began at the gates to Stanley Park on Walton Lane were a souvenir vendor sold glossy posters of the impending Champions,my Dad's initiation ceremony for me involved the purchasing of Royle,Labone,Ball etc etc and then kick on to our seats in the Park End.My excitement levels grew as we approached the ground, as an eight year old i experienced a sensation of exclusivity because something special was manifesting inside the ground,and notably on the playing surface.Match day programme,and at the time was a leading publication,along with Leeds whom brought a bit of style and sophistication to club subject matter and presentation,i recall my Grandfathers brother used to be employed at the company in Heswall were the home match day programme was printed,i was fortunate enough to receive the programmes that were especially published with thicker pages for the players and directors,which i still retain to this day,the whole 69/70 campaign to be precise.I'm going all Antiques Roadshow now,so i will get back on course with all things 70's the good,the bad and the downright perplexed.Champions Champions Champions ringing around Goodison with 58000 not missing a note,Andy Rankins penalty save against Moenchengladbach and his opposite keeper Wolfgang Kleff keeping the German team in the tie with a montage of wonderful shot stopping,Gordon West having an off night against Keflavik and gesturing to the Gwladys Street after he received the bird for making the Icelandic amateurs look more efficient than they presented,losing the FA Cup semi at Old Trafford,that was the first time hurt and major loss invaded my being as i stood on Heyworth Street contemplating abandoning my team and crossing the park(didn't happen as the D.N.A.)was firmly entrenched by then.Alan Ball being sold and an Empire in the infant stages of ruination.Harry Cattericks increasingly ill health,surely assisted with the vitriol coming his way after the out of the blue sale,a certain Bernie Wright or Bernard Wrong netting for Walsall against us in the cup and that deemed it sufficient enough to bring him to Goodison,i recall stand in manager Tommy Casey done the deal,as Catterick was convalescing,i was now 10 years of age and this was another seminal moment along with the semi loss at Old Trafford were this signing was not in league with what i fell in love with,the cracks were appearing and Bernie had the tonnage that contributed to them.When we won the league we had Faberge Eggs now those eggs gave off an odour and were decreasing in value and appeal.What began to hurt and grate is that we were all aware of a certain club not too distant from Walton that was growing in stature, and at a rate that was too rapid for my comfort.Irishman Billy Bingham arrives and we could have bounced back with the title,but Carlisle upset the momentum with the double over us and then they vacated Division 1to more familiar surround.Typical Everton getting two major players in Todd and Rioch in the twilights of their careers,still easy on the eye,but somehow it felt as if they were out to graze and Goodison was a nice notch before i hang them up.32000 at home in the Cup to witness Duncan McKenzie Waltz, Fandango and Foxtrot around Stoke City and offer entertainment starved Blues some relief,the following day's hi-lights on The Big Match with studio pundit Tommy Smith almost doing a Linda Blair in The Exorcist by offering tepid praise to Duncans performance in the most uncomfortable of fashions.Clive"there was an infringement"Thomas this Las Vegas showman from the Valleys didn't like the underdog act becoming top bill so he having the autonomy decided that Mr Sinatra retains top billing and Frankie Vaughn can try another day. Wembley 78 and a shocking non entity of a contest,superseded by two cracking replays,ultimately ending with Chris Nichols what seemed like it began at the Holte End and nestled in Lawsons net at the Stretford End,Davey i still think to this day it should have been prevented.Thank you to all the following Terry Darracott for being blue from head to toe and looking like a background detective in Hill Street Blues,big Mike Lyons for holding the fort and the famous Plan X of pushing up with ten minutes to go and i can't forget dare i mention his own goal across the divide,made Sandy Browns look a tap in.Andy King fine footballer £35000 steal but worth every penny for ending our dreadful sequence of failings to win a derby.Gordon Lee a good manager,i was at an Everton Supporters Club meeting in City Road Walton one night with Mr Lee in the telescopic sights of very angry fans,it was almost ancient Roman style past times as his subjects vented their venomous tirades at him on the state of affairs at present,i recall the man did not hide,shirk nor give the impression he wanted to be anywhere else,it was a very uncomfortable/uncompromising venue to be in that evening,but i will always remember in which the manner he represented himself

Agree with you about Gary Jones, Matt, and it's one of the points I tried to bring out in the book. As for a dvd of the 69/70, I would imagine it's impossible because the Cat decided to ban tv cameras from Goodison for the second half of the season, probably following the 0-3 debacle against Liverpool.

I know the 70's was seen as a bad time for Everton by all the moaning old arses, but i loved it. it was in the early 70's when i was 14 i was allowed to go to the match on my own. can't remember that much about individual games but my favourite player at the time was the right winger Gary Jones, who IMO never really fulfilled his potential. Still look back on my everton experience of that time fondly. I was easily pleased when it came to the Blues.

When football was affordable and was played by players that didn't drop at the sight of a penalty box. Titles were won by the team that deserved it. Not by the team with the biggest bank account.

If only there were season review dvds for the 70s - that would be great! I would love a season review of the title winning side from 1969/70. I know there is a Chelsea review of that season and they didn't even win it! Come on Everton, give the fans what they want!

Not a good time, although late 70s Bob Latchford arrived and Dave Thomas - good times. Early 70s we had just won the league and the wheels came off, we lost Bally to Arsenal - bad times.