Peter Reid turns 70 today, and Evertonians everywhere are raising a glass to one of their all-time greats. The word 'legend' is often overused in football, but Reid is the dictionary definition of a true blue hero.
Reid's Humorous Side
In an interview for the series Goodison Park: My Home, Reid recalled swapping shorts with Kevin Ratcliffe at half-time during the 1984 FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. Ratcliffe complained that Reid's shorts were too small, and after swapping, Ratcliffe played brilliantly. Reid also remembered his first appearance at Goodison in 1971, playing for Huyton Boys under-15s in the English Schoolboys Final.
A Divided Family
Reid, a boyhood red, never hid his family's divided loyalties. During a Merseyside derby at Anfield, he spotted his Uncle Arthur giving him abuse from the crowd. Reid said, "That's the way it should be at derby games. They were the biggest games."
Kendall's Classy Gesture
After the 1985 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United, a scuffle broke out in the dressing room. Manager Howard Kendall opened champagne, sorted the scuffle, and said, "That, gentlemen, is why you're champions." A year later, after losing the 1986 FA Cup final to Liverpool, Reid refused to join a joint open-top bus parade. Kendall fined him two weeks' wages but later returned the money, telling him not to tell anyone. Reid said, "That was the man. That's what the club was about."
Family Pride
Reid's mother was a true blue, and footage of her celebrating the 1985 title win at Goodison Park remains special to him. He said, "To see the pictures of her on that day is gear. I was made up for her."
Happy 70th birthday, Peter Reid – a true Everton legend.
