THE EVERTON COLLECTION CHARITABLE TRUST

EVERTON COLLECTION CHARITABLE TRUST APPOINTS JOE ROYLE AS PATRON

Lord Grantchester, Joe Royle, Tony Tighe

One of Everton Football Club's favourite number 9's from the past has been appointed as Patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust.

Joe Royle, a former player, manager and supporter of Everton takes over as patron of the Trust from the late, great Alan Ball who sadly passed away in April of this year. Tragically, Alan Ball did not live to see the Charity he was so closely involved with achieve it's objective of gaining Heritage Lottery funding when it was announced just two weeks ago.

Joe Royle held the accolade of being Everton's youngest ever player when he made his debut at the age of 16 in February 1966 at Blackpool under Harry Catterick. He held this honour until one, Wayne Rooney made his debut for the Toffees.

He won six England caps, the last being against Luxembourg in 1977 and he was a key member of Everton's 1970 Championship winning side. After a career of 15 years in top flight football Joe retired in 1982 due to a knee injury sustained playing for Norwich City. All in all he played a total of 473 league games in a career which included spells ay Manchester City and Bristol City. Three months after retiring Joe commenced his managerial career with Oldham Athletic where he spent 12 years before the lure of managing Everton beckoned.

In 1995 his blue "dogs of war" Everton team won the FA Cup against Manchester United at Wembley. He left Everton in 1997 and as manager of Manchester City Joe helped the club get out of the second division and into the Premiership in two straight years and he ended his managerial career with Ipswich Town FC.

Commenting on his appointment Joe Royle said: "As an Evertonian I know the importance of history to our club. I have obviously followed the Charitable Trust's activities with great interest over the past two years and was elated when they gained Lottery funding to acquire the David France Collection. I am delighted to be the Trust's patron following a great Everton icon like Alan Ball. This next phase of the campaign and the emergence of the Everton Collection as the greatest collection of football memorabilia in the world is all important to me, the Charity and to Evertonians everywhere."

Lord Grantchester, Chairman of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust said, “when we were tasked to identify a successor to Alan Ball, Joe Royle's name was first out of the hat. He is a great Evertonian and I am delighted to have him in our team." (09/10/07)

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