Billy Kenny, the former Everton midfielder once considered one of the Premier League era's biggest wasted talents, has revealed that both Liverpool and Manchester United were desperate to sign him before he chose his boyhood club. Kenny, now 53, says his decision was driven by an all-consuming desire to play for Everton.
Kenny made his Premier League debut in the inaugural season of England's new top flight, in a 1-1 home draw with Coventry City on October 17, 1992. Less than two months later, the teenager was named man-of-the-match as the Blues recorded a 2-1 comeback win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. He was handed a new contract, but a rapid decline into drink and drug abuse saw him sacked by Everton in 1994 after just 23 appearances and one goal.
Courted by Dalglish and Ferguson
Speaking on a special edition of the Royal Blue podcast, Kenny recalled how Sir Kenny Dalglish of Liverpool and Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United both courted his signature. He told the ECHO: "I was picked to represent Liverpool schoolboys and that's when all the scouts would come in. I'd be playing and coming off the pitch and my dad would be with a different scout every Saturday, whether that was someone with a United, Liverpool or Everton coat on."
Kenny, who grew up on Burlington Street, off Scotland Road, said his father advised him to look around before signing. "I did. I went to all these good clubs, getting loads of boots, trackies and coats – I loved it, just going around. When I was 16, leaving school, it was time to make my mind up. I was possessed. I needed to play for Everton, you know what I mean, it was my dream."
He added: "Although I loved it at United and Liverpool because they treated me and my family so well - Kenny Dalglish was great with me and Alex Ferguson... I never really saw Howard Kendall to be honest. I was getting dealt with at Everton by Graham Smith, the youth development officer, who was a lovely fella as well. I never saw Howard Kendall but that wasn't going to stop me either. I was nuts about Everton and I'm still nuts about Everton today. It never leaves you, does it?"
Facing Ryan Giggs
A testament to Kenny's potential is that he regularly held his own against Ryan Giggs, who went on to make 963 appearances for Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues. Kenny said: "I had some cracking games against Ryan Giggs, or Ryan Wilson as he was called at the time. Salford and Liverpool (schoolboys), we'd always face each other in semi-finals or finals. Some we'd win and some we'd lose but me and him used to have a great game."
He added: "It was mad because he'd be on the left and I'd be on the right, so we'd mark each other and the two of us would get man-of-the-match. It was nuts. He brought the best out of me and I brought the best out of him. Then when I went to Manchester United (to train) he was made up. He said: 'I'm glad I'm not f*****g playing against you no more Billy!' We ended up having a little friendly game and we were in the same team when I was up at the Cliff for six weeks."
Kenny said the feelers were definitely out from United. "When I came back from Liverpool at Wembley, I went to United for two weeks. Alex Ferguson knew. He said: 'How was your trip to Wembley with the Reds?' He was keeping a close eye on things. It was even tough knocking them back because they were all great people. They looked after me. I had to choose in the end, but it was one of them, if you're a Blue, you're a Blue and if you're a Red, you're a Red."
Liverpool's charm offensive
Liverpool were also desperate to sign Kenny, with manager Dalglish deploying the likes of the late Gary Ablett – a Scouser who would later cross Stanley Park to join Everton – to spend time with him. Kenny said: "For the FA Cup final against Wimbledon (in 1988), I sat with Gary all the way, there and back. He was just a lovely, lovely fella. He was a great footballer as well. I was made up when he came to Everton as I already knew him, we just hit it off again. I'm sure Dalglish used to get him in to try and tap me up."
Kenny also recalled how Dalglish used another local, Jimmy Taylor, a top chef, to try to persuade him. "When we used to go on the coach from Melwood back to Anfield for our dinner after training, Jimmy would be on Kenny's table. Jimmy was my Uncle Rocky's mate from Mere Lane in Anfield. I used to say to him: 'All right Jimmy, what are you doing here?' He was a mad Red. My mother's house was a five-minute walk from Anfield but Jimmy lived in the next street and I used to walk home with him. He'd tell me again: 'Kenny loves you, lad, you've got to make your mind up soon, what are you going to do?'"
Kenny admitted he hated Liverpool's success in the 1980s. "Growing up in Burly, I hated Liverpool. If you read the book, our neighbours were the Maloneys and the fights we had over Everton and Liverpool. I didn't know what I hated about them. I hated Liverpool's success in the 80s. I was jealous but jealousy turns into hatred, doesn't it? I think that's what it was and all the fighting with the Maloneys because they were all Reds and I had to look all over Scotland Road to get a five-a-side team."
He added: "When I was actually at Liverpool and meeting these players – who I hated through the telly – I was thinking: 'Oh my God, they're lovely people'. I've got it all wrong here. I don't hate Liverpool, I don't hate the fans, I just hated their success. It used to kill me. They were all lovely people. Dalglish, all the staff at Anfield and all the players. That sort of diluted it for me. But if I had to play against Liverpool tomorrow, I'd hate them again. You've got to. It is what it is, isn't it?"
Kenny's book, Goodison Gazza, written with help from the Guardian's Jamie Fahey, is titled after the nickname bestowed on him by team-mate Peter Beardsley, who had played alongside Paul Gascoigne at Newcastle United. The book is published by Reach Sport, priced at £16.99, and is on sale now with a 25% discount at reachsportshop.com.
