Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has paid tribute to Terry Darracott describing him as a 'staunch, blue-blooded Evertonian' following his passing at the age of 71.
The Blues confirmed on Wednesday morning that their former player and coach had passed away. Darracott played 179 times for Everton following his debut in April 1968 after he opted to join the club over Liverpool.
After leaving Everton in 1979, Darracott enjoyed a short spell with Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States. He then returned to the UK to join Wrexham before retiring from playing after a season with the club.
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The former full-back then returned to Goodison Park and worked under both Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey on the club’s coaching staff. And paying tribute to Darracott, Kenwright explained how the former Everton defender will be missed 'enormously' by all at the club.
“Terry was a fearsome defender, who cared passionately about Everton and was so proud to play for the Club,” the Everton chairman told evertonfc.com.
“You could see in him an authentic ‘they-shall-not-pass’ attitude, he would gladly put his body on the line for Everton and was a footballer with the heart of a lion.
“Terry was a member of one of my favourite Everton teams under Gordon Lee and it is so sad that we have lost these two special men in such a short space of time.
“With a stroke of fortune, Terry and Gordon would have won the League Cup after those epic finals against Aston Villa in 1977 and for a period the following season we competed at the top of the league.
“Terry was still the same, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and driven man – with that familiar fondness for a joke – when he came back to Goodison to work with Howard and he cared deeply about our club. He was a staunch, blue-blooded Evertonian and we will miss him enormously.”
