Gordon West Funeral

Gordon’s funeral will took place at 12 noon Monday 18th June at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral

A large congregation of Everton club officials, Former Players and Fans paid their respects to Gordon in an hour long service at the Cathedral.

Eulogies were read by former teammate Joe Royle, Sir Philip Carter, Peter Reid and Rev. Ross on Gordon the Evertonian, Gordon the Footballer, Gordon the Friend and Gordon the Family Man.

Everton Former Players Foundation Chairman Laurence Lee read the 23rd Psalm and Duncan McKenzie read from John Chapter 14.

The Hymns Jerusalem, Abide with me and I watch the sunrise were also sung.

Gordon left the Cathedral to Z Cars with a guard of honour made up from former Everton players and members of the former players foundation.

Gordon’s coffin was escorted by Joe Royle, Derek Temple, Cliff Marshall, Ian Callaghan, George Telfer, John Hurst and Tommy Wright to and from the Cathedral.

Other former players present were: Colin Harvey, Terry Darracott, John Bailey, Ronnie Goodlass, Tony McNamara, John Sutherland, Gerry Humphries, Colin Green, Barry Horne, Greame Sharp, Fred Pickering, Mick Gannon, Tony Kay & Tom Gardner with former Manchester United and PFA official Martin Buchan

Everton CEO Robert Elstone also came along to pay is respects.

Thoughts of all the Everton former players foundation are with his sons Steven and Mark and his partner Linda and all those who knew him.

The family have asked for any donations to be made to the Everton former players foundation

Gordon who joined Everton from Blackpool for £27, 500 a record fee for a goalkeeper at the time  in  March 1962 and made his debut at Goodison against Wolverhampton Wanderers keeping a clean sheet in a 4-0 win and went onto play another 401 games for Everton

He was part of the 1963 and 1970 League Division one winning sides and also the 1966 F.A. Cup winning side adding an F.A. Cup runners up medal to his collection in 1968.

After three years out of the game he returned briefly to play for Tranmere Rovers playing 17 times for the Wirral club

He was an England International making 3 appearances against Bulgaria, Wales and Mexico.

Gordon’s career stats and games played in can be viewed by clicking the link HERE

Former teammate Howard Kendall and fellow 1970 championship winner said the following: ‘ Westy was a fantastic person, one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever known. When he and Brian Labone were in the dressing room there was always a fantastic atmosphere.’

Another teammate who went onto Captain the club Mike Lyons paid this tribute: ‘When I think of Westy I think of someone who made so many people happy.’

Joe Royle who was part of the 1970 title winning side with Gordon said this: ‘Will miss you Gordy. A great man, a great goalkeeper. Legend of the Championship in 1970 along with another great man Labby. The side was filled with many comedians but was a great side with a great goalkeeper. You won 2 Leagues and an F.A. Cup and played for three different sides. Goodison will not be the same without you.’

Jimmy Husband who played alongside Gordon in the 1968 Cup Final side and in the 1970 title winning side paid him this tribute: ‘Gordon was a great great goalkeeper. Unfortunately he had another great Gordon Banks in front of him for the England team otherwise he would have won 60 or 70 caps for his country. He had a great sense of humour with his very various witty comments. He and Labby were like Morecambe and Wise when they got together. He was great fun and like all goalkeepers was mad and you never got in his way when he charged round playing outfield in training. In one away game we won the match but he got stick for letting a goal in and after the game he went home by train on his one while we went home on the coach. He was a giant, a great goalkeeper and a great man.’

Alan Whittle another teammate from the 1970 title winning side also paid tribute: ‘He was a very special person to me and my wife Jeanne a larger than life man in more ways than one. We loved the bones of him. All goalkeepers are mad but he was the maddest, in training he played in the outfield during 5 a side and he thought he was Joe Royle, Alex Young and Dixie Dean all rolled into one. He was the yellow jersey man to me and the lads (yellow jersey was given to the player who played the worst during training) and he always seemed to give it to Sandy Brown or Tommy Jackson. Loved the man and he will be sadly missed.’