Everton rename stands in honour of Howard Kendall and Sir Philip Carter
Everton will pay a lasting tribute to two of the Club’s greatest ambassadors by renaming two of Goodison Park's stands in their honour
Everton will pay a lasting tribute to two of the Club’s greatest ambassadors by renaming two of Goodison Park's stands in their honour.
The Gwladys Street End, which Howard Kendall famously referenced in his team-talk to inspire Everton to victory over Bayern Munich, will be renamed the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End and, at the opposite end of the stadium, the Park Stand will be renamed the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand, honouring the contribution made by the Club’s most successful Chairman.
Kendall, Everton’s most successful manager, who passed away on 17 October 2015, was adored and admired by Evertonians but he had a special place in the hearts of those who stood and sit in the Gwladys Street.
Making more than 200 appearances for the Club, he is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to pull on the Everton shirt. As a player and fans’ favourite, Kendall won the First Division title and was part of the Club’s Holy Trinity alongside teammates Colin Harvey and Alan Ball. He went on to manage the Club on three occasions, with his first spell immortalised as the most successful in the Club’s history as he led the side to two First Division titles as well as an FA Cup triumph and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
It was in the semi-final of that 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup campaign against Bayern Munich that Kendall called on his team to use the power of the Everton fans, famously telling his players: “Get the ball into their box and the Gwladys Street will suck the ball into the net.”
Kendall’s tenure as Everton manager will forever be linked with the special relationship he shared with his Chairman, Sir Philip Carter. Memorably, in the autumn of 1983, Sir Philip delivered a vote of confidence to an under-pressure Kendall who was early into his managerial reign. What followed was the most remarkable years in the history of the Club.
Two English championships, an FA Cup, a first European trophy, two further FA Cup final appearances and a League Cup final represented the most consistently successful spell the Club has ever enjoyed.
Carter, who passed away on 23 April 2015, was a childhood Everton fan. His first spell with Everton began in the 1970s when he joined the board of directors, becoming Vice-Chairman before being installed as Chairman in 1978. Having presided over domestic and European success at Goodison, Sir Philip was instrumental in changing the face of football in England as a prime mover in the formation of the Premier League. He was also influential in the renaissance of Liverpool as a city through his involvement in numerous regeneration, arts and charity boards.
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright said: “Howard Kendall and Sir Philip Carter are two of the greatest Evertonians of all time. Standing firm together through one of our lowest periods, they remained proudly united to lead us through the most successful period our great Club has ever enjoyed. It is this strength through togetherness that underpinned our desire to name these two stands in their honour at the same time. Two ends of Goodison, representing two of its most loved and loyal servants, facing each other and standing together once more.”
The Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End and Sir Philip Carter Park Stand, which poignantly face one other, will be known as such for as long as the Club remains at Goodison Park.