Former Everton captain Mike Lyons has paid tribute to his close friend and former teammate Terry Darracott, following his passing at the age of 71.
Both Lyons and Darracott came through the ranks at Goodison Park together having joined the club as youngsters. The pair were then regular colleagues in the Blues’ defence throughout the 1970s.
And after they both finished playing, the two reunited to join Colin Harvey’s coaching staff after he took over as manager following Howard’s Kendall’s departure.
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Lyons has lived in Perth, Australia, for the best part of 20 years. However that didn’t prevent him from catching up with his good mate 'Tegs' on his frequent trips back to Merseyside.
“I heard the news this morning and it has just knocked me for six … you’re miles away from home and when something like this happens you feel helpless,” Lyons said.
“If there is one thing I’d like to say about Tegs, it was that he was a top lad and a super Evertonian.
“He was a year older than me and we went through it all together and became the best of mates. On the pitch he was a really solid defender. Then we joined up again on the coaching staff under Colin (Harvey). What an Evertonian he was. He played, he coached and he was a supporter.”
Darracott’s death comes just weeks after former Everton boss Gordon Lee passed away, aged 87, and Lyons admits he still can’t quite believe his old mate has gone.
He said: “Coming so soon after Gordon Lee dying, it’s awful news. I knew Tegs hadn’t been well for a while, but this is still a terrible shock. We always stayed in touch, you just wish now you would have given him a ring last week.”
