Everton in 1970s

After finishing off the old season in style the 1970/71 season proved to be a disappointment with the Toffeemen only finishing 14th in Division one. In the European cup for the second time Everton were knock out in the third round by Panathinaikos in Athens on away goals. Harry Catterick had brought in Henry Newton from Nottingham Forest plus two players from Swansea City in Tommy Jackson and Dai Davies. In 1971/72 Everton slipped another place to finish 15th in the Division having sold world cup winner Alan Ball to Arsenal for £220,000. Catterick brought in John McLaughlin, Bernie Wright and John Connolly as well as giving first team starts to Goodison youngsters Peter Scott, Mike Lyons & Mick Buckley. Harry Catterick left the club at the end of the 1972/73 season after leading the club to 2 Leagues Championships and an FA Cup win. He had brought in to Goodison Mike Bernard, David Lawson, Joe Harper and allowed a swap deal for Rod Belfitt to join Everton whilst David Johnson went the other way to Ipswich Town. 1973/74 saw Everton finish 7th and Billy Bingham sign Dave Clements & Bob Latchford. However in part exchange for Latchford the blues moved onto Birmingham Archie Styles and Midfield legend Howard Kendall. 1974/75 and the blues would climb to 4th by the end of the season. Dave Smallman joined the club as well as £300,000 Martin Dobson. Bryan Hamilton & Andy King started their Everton careers in the 1975/76 season which finished with the club 11th. 9th was the position the blues finished in 1976/77 after Billy Bingham had brought in Bruce Rioch & Duncan McKenzie. However Bingham was not to see the end of the season as he was dismissed with Gordon Lee becoming manger in February of that season. Lee brought in Mike Pejic and would lead the team to an Football League Cup Final against Aston Villa which the blues lost after a second replay at Old Trafford. The Blues would also lose out in the FA Cup semi-final that year due to a disallowed goal scored or rather not scored by Bryan Hamilton producing a 2-2 score in the first semi- final leading to the blues losing the replay. 1977/78 Everton finished 3rd bringing in Dave Thomas, Trevor Ross & George Wood. Bob Latchford would score his 30th goal of the season in the last home game against Chelsea to win £10,000 from the Daily Express- Adidas. Everton continued to ride high finishing 4th in 1978/79 with Micky Walsh, Colin Todd, Brian Kidd, Geoff Nulty, Imre Varadi & John Barton joining however Micky Walsh left during that season seeing Peter Eastoe start his blues career in his stead. The last season of the decade 1979/80 saw Everton plummit to 19th place narrowly avoiding relegation. Despite bringing in a club record £650,000 full back John Gidman, Asa Hartford, Garry Stanley, John Bailey, Gary Megson, Martin Hodge, Eamonn O’Keefe and Graeme Sharp the blues just kept their League Divsion 1 place by four points.