Blue Kipper met Bob Latchford for an hour on the morning of the Blackburn game upstairs at St Luke's Church. we were ushered behind the Programme Stall to do the Interview. We asked The Latch the questions you sent to Blue Kipper. Here are his answers!

Blue Kipper: What’s it like to walk on water?

Bob Latchford (smiling): I don't know. There's only one fellow who can do that.

Blue Kipper: Have you ever tried?

Bob Latchford (laughing): No. I can't remember why the song came about, but it was great to hear it.

Blue Kipper: With fans naming their kids and pets after you, did you realise just how much of an idol you were at Everton?

Bob Latchford: In the short term, to be honest No, but later you realise I became a bit of a hero.

Blue Kipper: Who was your "hero" when you were a teenager and dreaming of becoming a professional footballer?

Bob Latchford: Di Stefano.

Blue Kipper: As a kid I had an Alsatian/Labrador cross called Bob who had his own Everton no.9 shirt, I had a portrait I did of you shown on tele in a Blue Peter competition, I stood up in front of my class and sang a song I made up about you and ended up having Swansea City as my second team. Did you have any heroes that made that much of an impression on you!?

Bob Latchford: Not as much of an impression as that, but I thought Dennis Law was something special.

Blue Kipper: Who was your best playing partner Bob Hatton or Trevor Francis?

Bob Latchford: They were two different players Bob was a forward like me, but Trevor played out wide and then would join in the attack. We had Gordon Taylor supplying the crosses, so Birmingham were great going forward, and I scored plenty of goals for them, but we let too many goals in at the other end.

Blue Kipper: You've got to pick one!

Bob Latchford: Ok. Bob Hatton.

Blue Kipper: Do you think we should have brought your partner Bob Hatton with you from Brum?

Bob Latchford: Yes. We worked well together.

Blue Kipper: In 1974 you signed for a £350,000 record fee with Howard Kendall going in the opposite direction. No pressure. How did you settle in?

Bob Latchford: Yeah not much pressure. I settled in quite well. I made my debut in a 4-3 defeat at West Ham and I scored my first goal away at Leicester. That took away the pressure and gave me confidence and then I got 2 in a 4-2 win at home against Birmingham. So I started scoring almost straight away.

Blue Kipper: At Everton you played with many strike partners, Mick Lyons, Gary Jones, George Telfer, Joe Royle, Jim Pearson, David Smallman, Duncan McKenzie, David Irving, Peter Eastoe, Brian Kidd, John Connolly, and for a couple of games Graeme Sharp. Who was the best?

Bob Latchford: Oh let me think. I'd have to go for Duncan. We hit it off well.

Blue Kipper: Do you recall those crucial mid-week cup replays, the fantastic atmosphere therein and the enjoyment of scoring that vital goal that led to your pitch-side elevation? Any comments?

Bob Latchford: The Hillsborough second replay was an electric atmosphere that night when we drew 1-1. They were exciting times. We had a good team and we just came up short from winning a trophy.

Blue Kipper: Why do you think you never scored against the dark side when while at Brum you often did?

Bob Latchford: I'd never played in a derby before with Villa always a division lower than Birmingham. So when the Merseyside derby came along I didn't know what to expect. I think it had an effect on me and I snatched at a few chances I had with Everton, whereas I was much more relaxed at Birmingham.

Blue Kipper: You’ve always been a hero of mine, but what on earth happened at Anfield in the 0-0 draw when the ball came to you on the edge of the box at the Anfield Road End with just Clemence to beat and you appeared to just lob the ball gently into his hands? Were you anticipating that he’d dive at your feet and he just outthought you by staying upright?

Bob Latchford: I remember, but I think it was at Goodison. Again I think the pressure got to me.

Blue Kipper: What was your favourite goal? Everton / All time

Bob Latchford: My first Everton goal against Leicester. The goal against Bolton in the League Cup semi.

Blue Kipper: I recall Bob missing a sitter from something like a foot out. Home game against West Brom(?), late '70's I think. What's Bob's most embarrassing missed sitter?

Bob Latchford: I think I wiped them away from my memory. You don't like to remember them.

Blue Kipper: Who was the most difficult defender you played against?

Bob Latchford: Alan Hansen.

Blue Kipper: Who was the best player you played with?

Bob Latchford: For Everton Martin Dobson was a great player, but I'd have to say Dave Thomas. He was so skilful, but to do the things he did at pace was brilliant. For England: Trevor Brooking was great, but I had a great partnership with KK, Kevin Keegan.

Blue Kipper: I'd like to ask Bob his memories of Chelsea 6-0 (30 goals) the excitement at the end of the game but I think the tension has robbed me of the memory of the game itself.

Bob Latchford: The Chelsea game was terrific. I always thought I would score the 30 goals. I was very calm and self assured. I remember Mick Lyons scoring and then apologising to me for getting in the way to score. For the penalty and it was a penalty I just knew I'd score.

Blue Kipper: you slotted the ultimate pressure penalty to get your 30th goal in the season to remember. Why didn’t you take more penalties, imagine how many more goals you would have scored?

Bob Latchford: In those days centre forwards didn't take the penalties. We scored enough and so other players used to take them. it was just the done thing.

Blue Kipper: One image sticks forever in my mind In either the replay of the FA Cup Semi-Final with West Ham at Elland Rd or the League Cup Final first replay with Villa at Hillsborough you scored a fantastic header and immediately leapt on to the heavy-duty blue railings that surrounded the pitch in that era to celebrate with the fans.

Bob Latchford: It was just the sheer elation of scoring such an important goal.

Blue Kipper: Can you ask Bob if he remembers an incident in the late 70s against, I think Wigan in the FA cup at Goodison. Bob gets hacked down by one of their thugs, ref does nothing and the ball goes out of play for a corner. Brian Kidd spots what’s happened, and as the ball comes over Kiddo lands one right on his chin. Big melee kicks off in the Gwladys Street 6 yard box, and as I recall it, big Bob webbs one of their lot right in the grid as he’s getting off the floor. Their goalie spots this, and him and Bob are to toe slinging punches. The magic of the 70s……………..PS I think we won the game.

Bob Latchford: Yes, I do. I think that covered everything. I was a pretty calm player, but if I was pushed over the edge, I'd react. I think there may have been a few players sent off if it happened now.

Blue Kipper: Central to your success as a goalscorer was wing play, why do you think the old 4-3-3 formation has gone out of fashion?

Bob Latchford: It's a sign of the times, but with players like Dave Thomas, Gary Jones and Ronnie Goodlass you had wingers who would supply the crosses. Now those types of players are not about.

Blue Kipper: I would like to ask you was it true most of the time you where in the right place at the right time ?

Bob Latchford: Yes, but I worked on it. I used to get in front of the centre half and be ready for the cross when it came over.

Blue Kipper: What do you remember about Billy Bingham and Gordon Lee as managers and coaches during your time at Everton ?

Bob Latchford: Both were good managers. Billy was more organised and more defensive, whereas Gordon with Steve Burtenshaw was more open and more expansive.

Blue Kipper: What was the highlight of your Everton career and why?

Bob Latchford: The league Cup Final at Wembley and of course the 30 goals in a season.

Blue Kipper: I would like to know who was the hardest player that you came up against and why ?

Bob Latchford: Dave Watson from Manchester City, Terry Butcher and Kevin Beattie from Ipswich.

Blue Kipper: My favourite goal of yours was at Derby County at the Baseball Ground in a 1-0 win. It was a cracking header and I think we went top that night. What is your favourite? What is his most memorable goal for Everton.

Bob Latchford: I remember that. My favourite is the 30th against Chelsea for obvious reasons.

Blue Kipper: You are pictured with Dixie Dean. What did you talk about?

Bob Latchford: That was taken on the day I signed at Bellefield. I can't remember what we talked about. I met him several times. He was a lovely man. I always expected him to be taller than he was.

Blue Kipper: Is there anything that you would have liked to have been done differently by the management then, that you think would have made us successful?

Bob Latchford: Billy Bingham nearly signed Peter Shilton and if we would have got him, I think we would have won the league. When we finished 4th in 1975, we lost twice to Carlisle who had just won promotion. We should have beaten them and we could have gone onto better things. We finished 4th, 3rd, 4th in 3 seasons. Nowadays we would have been in the Champions League. They were good seasons.

Blue Kipper: Do you think you were successful as a team at Everton?

Bob Latchford: As I said we did well, qualifying for Europe, we got to FA Cup semi-finals, we were competing for championships, but it was looked upon as not good enough as Liverpool were so dominant. If you took that Everton team and put it in the era we have now, the fans would be happy.

Blue Kipper: Which Everton player would you say was the best provider for you as a striker?

Bob Latchford: Dave Thomas. A fantastic player

Blue Kipper: Does he keep in touch with Davy Thomas?

Bob Latchford: I haven't seen him for about 10 years, but it's been arranged to see him next week, which will be great.

Blue Kipper: I seem to remember that you left very soon after Howard Kendall came in as manager. Why was that ?'

Bob Latchford: I had already left before Howard had come in, but he did ask me to stay, but I had already decided to leave. I regret it though.

Blue Kipper: How did you feel about leaving? Did you feel in retrospect that if perhaps you'd stuck around you could have been part of that success - especially given the succession of 'journeymen' who arrived and departed after you, making little impression, and given that when Kendall needed a new striker that season he turned to another 70s legend nearing the end of his career - Andy Gray ?

Bob Latchford: Yes I do regret leaving to early. But at the time I thought it was for the best.

12 England Caps

Blue Kipper: Do you wince when you look at your permed hair?

Bob Latchford: Yes. It was just the fashion then. Quite a lot of the players had it done.

Blue Kipper: Which of Bob's appearances does he see as his iconic image he'd prefer to be remembered for...
a. gruffalo with a beard?
b. long hair and beard?
c. clean shaven?
d. perm?
e. blue shirt white collar?
f. white diamonds down the sleeve?
g. double white diamonds down the sleeve?
h. short or long sleeves?
i. sponsorship on shirts or not? (if yes which sponsor?)
j. sweat band on the wrists?
k. home or away kit?
l. blue or white socks?

Bob Latchford: I remember them all. Some I think: "Oh no!" At times I think was that really me. My girlfriend can't believe it when she sees old photographs of me.

Blue Kipper: You were never a really aggressive player apart from when you faced your goalkeeping brothers. Was it just sibling rivalry or did you have a reason to get stuck in? Do you both get along OK?

Bob Latchford: I had to show them. It's just that brotherly love thing. It was compulsory to kick them. They were my brothers!

Blue Kipper: I recall reading that he had a run in with his brother Dave, who was Birmingham's goalkeeper, during an Everton v Birmingham game. Also, as kids, did you used to make your Dave go in goal when you played three and in, and was he ever any good out of the sticks? Vice versa

Bob Latchford: Yes I played in goal for Warwickshire Boys U14s. I played in goal for a season. Then I played on the left wing, a speedy winger and actually signed for Birmingham as a winger, but then I got changed to a centre forward and stayed there.

Blue Kipper: I have always wanted to know what Bob felt like every time we battered Birmingham City and Bob smashed his customary 2 or 3 goals past his own brother who was the Brum goalkeeper?

Bob Latchford: As I said earlier. It's just that brotherly love thing.

Blue Kipper: Does Bob remember the game against Palace (team of the eighties) when he mistook the centre half's (I think it was Billy Gilbert) head for the ball with an attempted volley?!!

Bob Latchford: Sorry! No I don't. But I may have done it.

Blue Kipper: Ask Bob what would he have done if he was never a footballer?

Bob Latchford: Good question. No idea. I just always wanted to be a footballer and had no other thoughts every since I was 14. I was so set on being a player.

Blue Kipper: Does you fancy a game of 3 & in?

Bob Latchford: I couldn't play for 5 minutes. I used to play 3 & in with my brothers.

Blue Kipper: How many goals did he officially score with his bum?

Bob Latchford: Must be a few.

Blue Kipper: I heard a lot of fans shouting: "Come on you lazy bastard Bobby. Do some running for a change."

Bob Latchford: No. I'm sure they did. At the time you think you are doing your best.

Blue Kipper: Which ground, if any, did Bob NOT enjoy visiting. As fans we all have our favourite ground or otherwise and I wondered if Bob felt the same during his playing days?

Bob Latchford: I liked QPR. Man United, Tottenham and Leicester. I liked playing at Anfield with my other clubs. I didn't like it with Everton. I didn't like Wolves or The old Dell.

Blue Kipper: Do you think that there should be more quality beards around in football these days? Paul Hartley up at Hearts is doing his bit.

Bob Latchford: Yes. I liked my beard.

Blue Kipper: Can you ask Bob if he was frustrated by not getting more than his 12 England caps. It seemed in that era you have to have a red shirt on to get in the national side - I don't think Andy King ever got a look in or Mick Lyons either?

Bob Latchford: I thought I should have had more and thought I should have gone to the European Championships. But I've got 12 more than a lot of good players.

Blue Kipper: Bob, How come you look so much better now than you did as a player? I don't fancy you or anything. It's just blatantly obvious you were a bit of a scruffy get in your playing days.

Bob Latchford: Believe me I couldn't play at all now. I kick a ball about with my son now, but that's it.

Blue Kipper: What was Swansea like?

Bob Latchford: It was great. Tosh run the club well. Robbie James, Curtis, and Everton's Neil Robinsonand some other good players. We had one great season and nearly won the league, but the second season we went down, but I scored 20 goals that season, but then the age caught up on us.

Blue Kipper: How was your stay in Holland? You're still a hero for a lot of fans of NAC Breda

Bob Latchford: It was a terrific experience. I only played 16 games, but scored 13 goals. That's why I'm a hero. We won the play-offs and went up to the top division. It was a like a semi-pro club. They were very friendly people. They loved a drink. Every week seemed to be party time, win, lose or draw. There was this Easter festival and we partied for 4 or 5 days. Yes a great time.

Blue Kipper: Do you ever visit Bellefield? If so, have you signed Norm's ex-players book there?

Bob Latchford: No never been back there since the day I left as a player.

Blue Kipper: Do you still watch out for the Everton Scores and Matches?

Bob Latchford: Yes I do. I see the games on TV. I get the papers sent over to Germany. With living in Germany, the football isn't very good unless you watch Bayern Munich. It's not exciting. It bores me. Saying that Germany will most probably get through to the final of the World Cup.

Blue Kipper: Duncan Ferguson, Everton hero or villain, go on be honest, after Wigan there is a real split with Evertonians currently.

Bob Latchford: I think he's a lad who will probably look back over his career and think he could have achieved a lot more. He may look back and have one or two regrets over doing the things he's capable of doing. When he does produce, there's nobody better of his type around. He's got everything. He would have been a great player in my era, as it was more physical and you could get away with more physical stuff. He would have run a muck. He would have frightened most teams.

Blue Kipper: What do you think of today's football as compared to your times? Is it harder to score goals now than before?

Bob Latchford: It's hard to judge. The players today are athletes first and foremost. They are so much bigger than when I played. I worked for Birmingham Youth Academy and visited Arsenal's training complex to see what it was like and in their canteen. Well it was like a 5 star restaurant. Anyway Dennis Bergkamp comes along and he's massive. He's about 6 foot oneish and he's so tall and broad. I was so surprised. He didn't look it. That's just Dennis Bergkamp.

Blue Kipper: Just wondering, would you ever consider managing the People's Club?

Bob Latchford: Not now, but if I could go back in time to the end of my playing career. Certainly, Yes.

Blue Kipper: Having been transferred to Everton for a record fee of £350.000. what do you think of the transfer fees we are seeing these days?

Bob Latchford: It's gone mad. It's the market these days.

Blue Kipper: How about wages, do you think the modern player should be earning as much as he does?

Bob Latchford: I say good luck to them. It's a short career. They just get what they can.

Blue Kipper: Who has been Everton's greatest number 9 since Bob Latchford?

Bob Latchford: Sharpy. I actually played one game with him.

A big Thanks to Bob for spending an hour with us and to Steve Milne and Martin O'Boyle from the Everton Former Players' Foundation. We wish Bob luck with his forthcoming Book '30'.

You asked the questions: Dave Hadwin, Derek D Sullivan, Sausage, Amanda Gill, Sting Ray, David O'Byrne, Lavo, Brian Collins, Jogger, Paul Chesters, Chris Jones, Liam Parker, Si Keno, Mark Hodgetts, Jason Ingham, Cookie, Ray S, Martin Dunne, Dirty Harry, Suzie, Stuart Tulett, Anthony Slack, Rez, Graham Smyth, Kev Clarke, Lee, Lard, Ray Jones, Steve Hogan, Dave Wild, Don, Ben Griffiths, Jay, St Pat 55,
Mark Howard, Holty, Dave McLatchford, Ian Macdonald, Sunny Runny, Kevin Marlow, Matt Hopkinson, Peter Hatch, Frank Doyle, John Warner, James Prendergast, Marc Chadwick, Chris Perrin, Mike Bond, Derek Rothwell, Jad Baker, Paul Foster, Nick Smith, David Macdonald, Linny, Dean Paton, Jonesy, Greg D, Mark Howard, Steve Mahon, Mike Hoy, Steve Jones, Dave MacDonald, Simon Lloyd, Gwladys, Mark Davies, Andy, Ruud Bavel, Dixie Dave, Pete Grace, Pekka, Neill Rutherford, Ian, Phil Shone, Chris Cavanagh, Steve Carse, John Jakobsen, and Kipper.

You can meet Bob Latchford at his Book Launch Dinner on Friday 21st April 2006 at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool City Centre. Bob Latchford's book entitled '30' - the story of his stunning 1977/78 season. Members of the squad from the time will also be in attendance. Tickets for the evening, which includes a four-course meal and a signed copy of the book, cost £50. There is a special offer available to those who have already subscribed to the book. For more information or to reserve your place, call the Everton Former Players' Foundation Hotline on 0151 520 2362. (Quote: Blue Kipper)