It is 45 years to that day that Bob Latchford left Everton Football Club.
Latchford joined the Toffees in 1974 from Birmingham City, with the club paying £350,000, which was a British transfer record at the time.
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As part of that deal, Howard Kendall and Archie Styles moved in the opposite direction for around £80,000.
He would spend seven years at Goodison Park, and endeared himself to Evertonians for his striker’s instinct and excellent aerial ability.
Now, 45 years on from when he left the club, we look back at his time at Everton.
How Bob Latchford fared at Everton and that incredible 1977/78 season in particular
Latchford was a prolific and physically dominant striker for Everton, which helped him to average a goal nearly every other game during his time with the Toffees.
In an era that was dominated by Liverpool, Latchford often gave performances that Evertonians took genuine solace from. He was seen as the light through some dark seasons.
After fading into mediocrity after the league title win in 1970, Everton needed someone to restore pride and someone to believe in.
Latchford was that man, and it was at Everton that he enjoyed his heyday and became a folk hero.
He was the club’s top scorer for five straight years from 1974/75 and as a result of his prowess, he managed to accrue 12 caps for England.
But it was the 1977/78 season that Latchford well and truly came alive for Everton.
It was his most prolific season, and he became the first player in six years to score 30 goals in a First Division campaign.
And this feat actually netted him a £10,000 prize put up by the Daily Express newspaper.
He had needed two goals in Everton’s final game of the season against Chelsea and having not been in the game for the first 70 minutes or so, it looked like it’d be beyond him.
But Latchford netted a header, and then scored a penalty for the Toffees to hit the magic 30.
The humble Latchford then shared out the £10,000 between teammates, ground staff and charities, meaning he took only £200.
After scoring 138 goals in 268 games for Everton, he left the club in 1981 to join the Brisbane Lions very briefly, before heading to Swansea City where he spent a few years and continued to be prolific. After a few more spells with the likes of NAC Breda, Coventry City and Lincoln City, he retired in 1987.
Latchford was a fearsome striker who sadly didn’t win the silverware that befitted his quality as a player, claiming only a couple of Welsh Cups at Swansea.
But he undoubtedly captured the hearts of Everton fans, many of whom would love to see some of the traits he showed in the options David Moyes has at his disposal today.
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