Unveiling the Everton Contract That Eluded Revie’s Signature

Before her passing last year, my mother often remarked that our family home held a hidden treasure from her life with my stepfather, George. I frequently pondered whether it was an heirloom or some valuable antique.

George Watts, my stepfather, served as both chairman and director of Everton while also holding a position with the club’s owner, John Moores, at the Littlewoods Organisation. A savvy businessman, he was deeply involved in the financial aspects of the club. As a child, I recall legendary forward Bob Latchford visiting our home to discuss contract matters.

Following George’s death in 1988, his estate was overseen by Keith Tamlin, a fellow club director and solicitor. During the process, a filing cabinet filled with club-related documents was cleared out, yet one crucial item remained untouched.

This document lay dormant for 37 years until last summer when I embarked on a familiar journey for many who have lost a parent: meticulously sorting through a lifetime’s worth of paperwork. Amidst outdated policies, receipts, family photos, and work-related keepsakes, I discovered a brown envelope tucked away in one of the steel-grey drawers labeled ‘Everton: Season Ticket Sales.’

Initially appearing unremarkable, it contained a tally of revenue from several seasons in the 1970s. However, my attention was captured by an undated flight schedule to Athens from Manchester alongside multiple copies of a typed contract, one of which bore my stepfather’s distinctive and somewhat difficult-to-read handwriting.

A closer examination unveiled an agreement between Everton Football Club and Don Revie, a remarkable figure who had transformed Leeds United from a Second Division club into champions of every major domestic competition and a two-time winner of the Fairs Cup. This revelation, occurring more than fifty years after the contract was drafted, surprised me as a lifelong Everton supporter and a BBC Radio Leeds commentator for two decades.

The Managerial Pursuit

During a period when Everton sought a worthy successor to their most successful manager, Harry Catterick, Revie’s reputation was soaring. Ronny Goodlass, an Everton winger aspiring to break into the first team, reflected on this time: ‘Catterick, Don Revie, and Bill Shankly were the three great managers, each with incredible teams and devoted fanbases. The thought of having Don Revie was exciting; he was a proven winner.’

Yet, the contract remained unsigned, reflecting Revie’s refusal of an annual salary of £15,500, equivalent to around £240,000 today, along with a seven-year deal starting June 1, 1973. It also offered potential bonuses and a car suitable for his role, along with a club-provided home within 25 miles of Goodison Park, valued between £20,000 and £40,000, with the option to purchase at the club’s acquisition price or rent for £6 weekly.

Revie’s proposed salary was believed to surpass that of Catterick, who had secured two league titles and an FA Cup during a twelve-year tenure but stepped down due to health concerns and a decline in team performance the previous April.

Moores had grand ambitions, willing to invest significantly in their new manager, with other names like Bobby Robson of Ipswich Town and Bill McGarry of Wolves also being speculated. On a Monday morning, Revie, driving his gold Mercedes, was spotted seeking directions to Moores’ residence in Freshfield, Formby, just hours before joining Leeds’ squad, which was scheduled to fly to Greece for their Cup Winners’ Cup final against AC Milan.

Interestingly, Moores and Revie had met the prior weekend at Moores’ villa in the south of France, suggesting that an agreement was in the works, yet no contract had been signed.

What Might Have Been

As Leeds prepares to visit Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time, it prompts reflection on the myriad possibilities had Revie signed with Everton. Perhaps Leeds would now have a statue or even a stand honoring their most celebrated manager.

If Revie had accepted the Goodison Park role, the tumultuous England managerial appointment a year later might not have occurred. By then, he could have fulfilled his intention to bring England internationals Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry from Elland Road to Merseyside.

Could there have been a different fate for Brian Clough during his infamous 44-day tenure as England manager? Had the Everton board opted for Clough after Leeds finished as runners-up in the league, FA Cup, and Cup Winners’ Cup in 1973, would he have been granted the time necessary to mold the team?

Would Everton have clinched the title under Revie’s guidance rather than faltering in 1975? Such considerations highlight Revie’s innovative approach to opposition analysis and meticulous attention to detail, making it clear that securing his services would have been groundbreaking.

The question lingers: how close did Leeds come to parting ways with the man who would ultimately guide them to a second league title in the 1973-74 season after launching the campaign with an impressive 29-match unbeaten streak?

Many Leeds players believed Revie’s move to Everton was a foregone conclusion. Richard Sutcliffe, author of ‘Revie Revered and Reviled,’ noted that as the team departed for Thessaloniki, the atmosphere was somber as they felt they were losing a father figure.

Revie may have sensed a lack of appreciation from Leeds’ current board under chairman Manny Cussins, and joining Everton might have allowed him to maintain the integrity of the squad he had nurtured since taking over as Leeds manager in 1961.

Ultimately, he chose to stay. Legendary Leeds midfielder Eddie Gray remarked, ‘I never imagined he would leave. Don was astute in both management and financial dealings. His wife came from a footballing background, which gave them insight into dealing with directors and chairmen. I believe he intended to apply pressure on the board rather than leave.’

Unfinished Business

Revie had a history of declining overtures from clubs like Sunderland, Birmingham City, and the Italian giants Juventus and Torino. As the team prepared for the final in Greece, Revie’s comments hinted at his unfinished ambitions with Leeds: ‘They possess remarkable characters and talent, and I have great faith in them. People have suggested this team needs rebuilding, but they have proven their capabilities in recent years.’

Following the defeat against Milan, Revie deflected inquiries about his future, returning to Greece with the Everton contract still unexecuted, leaving both club boards uncertain about the need for succession planning.

On May 23, Labour MP Dennis Skinner raised questions in the House of Commons regarding Revie’s rumored salary at Everton and whether it would be submitted to the Pay Board—a government body aimed at controlling wage inflation. Did this intervention influence Revie’s decision to remain? Would his contract with Everton have been legally binding?

Evidence suggests that a flight to Athens was booked for the day after Skinner’s query. Ultimately, Revie squashed the speculation with a phone call to Leeds director Percy Woodward from his holiday, informing Everton that he had declined their offer for ‘personal reasons.’ Subsequently, Billy Bingham was appointed as manager.

The extent to which financial considerations played a role in Revie’s decision remains debatable, but it appears that his emotional ties to Leeds ultimately guided his choice. ‘The connections I have with Leeds United, the players, the staff, and the directors who allowed me to manage…,’ Revie later explained his reasoning for staying. ‘They were the first club to give me a chance, and that solidified my desire to remain.’

Revie went on to secure the league title the following season before taking over as the England manager in July 1974, while a contract without his signature remained hidden in a filing cabinet in a Wirral bungalow for fifty years.