On this day in 1990, Neville Southall staged his infamous half-time sit-down at Goodison Park and was branded a “Judas” by some Everton fans but he remained at the club for over seven more years. Here’s the story of the fall-out from one of the most extraordinary incidents ever seen at ‘The Grand Old Lady.’
Some 11 days after Everton had been rocked by Southall and Kevin Sheedy's double transfer request, they kicked off the 1990/91 Division One season at home to Division Two champions Leeds United, back in the top flight after an eight-year absence. On the eve of the fixture, Harvey called for a show of solidarity both on and off the pitch, declaring: “We need to pull together to ensure that we make a good start.”
Meanwhile, there was a big interview in the ECHO with Leeds’ young star Gary Speed and his Evertonian roots – which were inspired by fellow North Walian Southall. The midfielder – who went on to sign for his beloved Blues six years later under Joe Royle – said: “I was a fanatical Everton supporter as a kid. I was a bit of a rebel in those days and because dad wanted me to follow Liverpool I chose Everton. My mates were Everton fans too and I’ve always rated Neville Southall the best ‘keeper in the land.”
By the end of the afternoon, Big Nev found praise in short supply though. Centre-back Chris Fairclough fired the Yorkshire side in front after just eight minutes and with Everton right-back Neil McDonald firing a penalty wide on 25 minutes, the visitors doubled their advantage – through Speed – on 34 minutes.
It got worse in the second half as former Everton player Imre Varadi added a third on 56 minutes. A late rally saw the Blues pull goes back through Pat Nevin (68) and John Ebbrell (77) but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.
In the midst of it all there was Southall’s now-infamous half-time sit-down in which he re-emerged early from the home dressing room before the second period to lean against a goal-post. It was an act that Harvey was not made aware of until after the game and although the manager tried to play down the incident publicly, he fined Southall a week’s wages (an estimated £3,000-£4,000) before saying: “Neville intended no slight to me, to the club or to the Everton fans. There was no bust-up between Neville and myself, and I think he regrets going out on the field.”
READ MORE: New Pickford contract revives memories of bold Everton move to stop transfer
READ MORE: Everton transfer that never was nearly led Man Utd to door of 'unbuyable' star
Southall found less sympathetic responses from a couple of prominent ECHO columnists though. Despite Tommy Smith’s legendary status across Stanley Park, the former Liverpool player was a regular spectator at Goodison on match days and insisted he always wanted Everton to win so long as they weren’t playing the Reds.
The Anfield Iron declared: “Neville Southall has been pushing Everton into a corner by continually agitating for a move. Now he’s gone right over the top and the club, quite rightly, have to deal with him severely.
“He was completely out of order when he left the home dressing room early at half-time on Saturday and head out onto the pitch to sit by a goal post. If he’d done that to Bill Shankly, his ears would have been ringing all the way from Goodison Park to his home in North Wales and Shanks would have probably phoned him in the middle of the night as well, just to give him another volley.”
Meanwhile, in an article that demonstrates a change in attitudes and political correctness in the generation since 1990, Linda McDermott blasted: “You big Jessie Southall! Why don’t you swap that green goalie’s jersey for a big girl’s blouse, it would fit you better after that tantrum on Saturday.”
The ECHO then tracked down the mystery fan who had also taken to the Goodison turf to confront Southall. Jimmy Sanders, a 37-year-old from Park Lane, Netherton, earned 15 minutes in the cells for his troubles after leaving his place in the Lower Bullens Stand to remonstrate with the goalkeeper on the pitch but felt that it was well worth it.
He said: “I told him ‘Get up and wear your Everton shirt with pride.’”
Four days later as Everton were beaten again, 3-1 at Coventry City, the goalkeeper was met by an angry banner in the away end at Highfield Road that read: “Judas Southall. Once a binman, always a binman.” However, despite not getting back from the West Midlands until 1am – after a traffic jam on the M6 – Southall turned up early for a voluntary training session the following morning, on his day off.
And the day before Everton's third game of the season, another loss, 1-0 at Howard Kendall's Manchester City, which left them rooted to the bottom of the table, Southall spoke exclusively to the ECHO to reveal his side of the story. In conversation with Ken Rogers from his house in his home town of Llandudno, the 31-year-old said: “People thought that I had come out to make a point about my transfer request and that I’d sat down to make my feelings clear.
“That had nothing to do with it whatsoever. We didn’t have the best of first halves.
“After all that had gone on last season, which to be honest wasn’t one of our best, the last thing I wanted was to start off in the first league game with a bad defeat. During the pre-season games I had received some nasty comments from one or two people because of the transfer situation.
“Some even said that they would be happy if I broke my leg. I felt I had something to prove and I wanted to do well against Leeds for the fans, the manager and the rest of the players.
“When you want something so badly and it goes to pieces, possibly because you’re trying too hard, then there’s a chance something will give.”
Southall’s transfer request stood at the time but he insisted that he just wanted to get on with his job, let things settle and put all the controversy behind him. Asking fans to ignore speculation linking him with different clubs, not least Manchester United, he added: “I’m always getting associated with them but at this moment I have no interests in going to United.”
What happened next?
One of the most devoted Evertonians in the club’s history, Harvey was sacked as manager two months later on Halloween but he returned the following week on Bonfire Night as assistant to his old boss and former colleague in the Blues midfield, Howard Kendall. The two men were honoured, alongside Alan Ball, with a Holy Trinity statue outside Goodison Park, unveiled in 2019.
Manchester United boss Ferguson finally ended his search for a new goalkeeper the following year when he signed Peter Schmeichel from Brondby for £505,000. Over an eight-year spell at Old Trafford, the Danish international helped Ferguson to win his first five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Southall would remain at Everton for over seven more years. As the only remaining player from Kendall’s trophy-winning sides of the mid-1980s, he became the most-decorated player in Everton’s history when he rolled back the years to produce a stunning display against Ferguson’s United side, containing Schmeichel, in the 1995 FA Cup final and secure the Blues last major trophy to date.
He would also go on to make 751 appearances for the club, 217 more than his nearest challenger Brian Labone. Today he is perhaps best-known among younger generations as a passionate mental health campaigner and social activist online.
READ NEXT
-
Inside Everton Stadium's new South Stand as incredible build progresses
-
Everton players appear suited and booted as club sign new fashion deal
-
Ben Brereton Diaz backed to make step up at Everton after 'unlocking potential'
-
Everton 'revisit former transfer target' who has played for Barcelona
-
Dele Alli receives incredible welcome in Istanbul ahead of Besiktas switch
