Mike Trebilcock

For one ex Evertonian it will be mixed emotions when Plymouth take on the Blues in the FA Cup 3rd Round tomorrow evening. Mike Trebilcock wrote his name into Everton folklore when in 1966 he scored the winning goals that brought the prized trophy back to Goodison Park, in our 3-2 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday.

Mike was included in the side at the last minute, and he went on to score twice in five second half minutes to help Everton turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win, the last time a team came from two goals down in the final to win the cup.

Showing his potential with 27 goals for Plymouth in 71 matches in the old Second Division, he returned home from the cinema during Christmas 1965 to find an Argyle director on his doorstep, saying Everton wanted to sign him.

Mike signed for the Blues for £30,000 in late 1965, and made his debut in a 2-2 draw on New Year's Day against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Getting back to that great day in 1966, it had been 33 years since Dixie held the cup aloft for the Toffee's, and Mike was picked ahead of Fred Pickering in a shock team selection. The rest as they say is history.

Mike has since moved on to Darwin with his Liverpool-born wife where he coached a local club and recently turned 60. He admits his allegiances will be split on Saturday but Premier League Everton, the club that gave him his greatest moment, has his vote.

Mike On Saturday says: "I would have stayed with Plymouth for the rest of my life, I was quite happy there, and I'd have stayed at Everton. I love Plymouth and the people of Plymouth but I don't think Plymouth will win the cup. So I've got to say Everton."

Mike On That Great Day in 1966 says: "Ahead of the cup final, I was just excited about going to Wembley. I was talking with the reserve team lads about how I had dreamed about playing in a cup final, scoring a goal and how I had never thought I would get there.

We went down on the Thursday and when the squad list went up, I was on it. I thought 'Great, I will get to sit on the bench with the other players'. At Friday lunchtime the trainer said the boss wanted to see me, and I thought I was going to put the kit out .

Fred was in there and the manager (Harry Catterick) said: 'At times like this decisions have to be made and I have to make them', and he said I was playing instead of Fred. I could have fallen off a stool - it was pretty exciting stuff.

It was fantastic day - one of my friends from home stuck his head in the team bus on the way to the stadium and held up two fingers. 'You get two today, Mike.'

We celebrated 40 years ago and we're still celebrating." (07/01/05)