Royal Blue

Chris Beesley speaks to Alan Irvine – who served Everton in three different capacities – in the latest episode of Goodison Park: My Home. The Glaswegian recalls how his Everton journey started in bizarre circumstances as the manager who convinced him to join the club, Gordon Lee, was sacked while he was in the building with him but explains how the fact that the by now former Blues boss’ glowing endorsement only reinforced his decision to sign for them from Queen’s Park. Irvine was then part of new manager Howard Kendall’s emerging team and played in the first all-Merseyside Wembley final but injuries cost him a place in the side that would lift the FA Cup at the end of that season and he moved on to Crystal Palace. In 2002, he returned to Everton as David Moyes’ assistant and the pair helped revive the Blues fortunes again before he went off to try his hand at management himself although he would later come back for a third spell with the Blues as he headed their academy and at 66, Irvine insists Everton rem