Brian Leslie Labone (23 January 1940 – 24 April 2006) was an English footballer who played for and captained Everton. A one-club man, Labone's professional career lasted from 1958 to 1971, during which he won the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup once. He also played 26 times for the England national football team.
Brian Labone was born in Liverpool, England, on 23 January 1940. His parents were Arthur Leslie Labone and Bridget Patricia Rice. The Labone family have distant Italian roots on his paternal side through an ancestor called Nicholas Antonio Labone who taught various foreign languages in Glasgow, Scotland. He was also of Irish descent on his mother(Bridget Patricia Rice) side.[1][2]
Educationedit
Labone attended the Liverpool Collegiate School.
Playing careeredit
Liverpool-born Labone chose to join Everton at 17 in July 1957 instead of going to university. His debut for the first team was in 1958.[1] He was widely regarded as one of the best central defenders of his era. He was a strong tackler, good in the air, adequately fast but he rarely used his left foot.
Labone made 451 League appearances for Everton and a total of 534 in all competitions.[1] He scored two league goals and was booked only twice throughout his career. Manager Harry Catterick called him "the last of the Corinthians". Labone played in the championship teams of 1962–63 and 1969–70, in the FA Cup winning team of 1966, and in the FA Cup final of 1968. He also won the FA Charity Shield in 1963 and 1970.[3][4] Labone showed his high opinion of Everton in a simple quote "One Evertonian is worth twenty Liverpudlians"
Labone played 26 times for England between 1962 and 1970. He withdrew from England's 1966 World Cup squad because of his imminent marriage but played in three of the four games in the World Cup in 1970 in Mexico.
In 1970–71 Labone sustained a serious injury to his Achilles tendon and retired from playing. A few years earlier he had announced, at the beginning of the season, his intention to retire at the end of that season, in typical fashion giving the club as much notice as possible so that he could be replaced. Such was the outcry however that he changed his mind and played on for two more seasons.
Post-playing and deathedit
Labone maintained his links with Everton where he worked as a guide for guests & visitors and a website columnist. Labone was included in Everton's 'Greatest Ever Team'[5] as voted for by the fans at the start of the 2003/04 season to mark the club's 125th anniversary.
Whilst returning home from an Everton fans awards evening at the Winslow Hotel in Walton, Labone died suddenly after collapsing in the street close to his Lydiate home at the age of 66. He was survived by Pat, his wife of 40 years,[6] and daughter Rachelle (born 1970).
Another former Everton captain, Kevin Ratcliffe, paid the following tribute: "Brian was Everton. If you could put together a team of every player that has ever captained Everton, every one of us would turn to Brian to lead us out. He will always be known as the captain of Everton". Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright also paid tribute by saying: "On the foot of the Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park are the words 'Footballer, Gentleman, Evertonian'. Those words summed up Dixie and they apply, equally, to the great Brian Labone."[7] Part of Everton's home ground, Goodison Park, was named in his honour.[8]
brian, labone, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2009, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Brian Labone news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2009 template removal help Brian Leslie Labone 23 January 1940 24 April 2006 was an English footballer who played for and captained Everton A one club man Labone s professional career lasted from 1958 to 1971 during which he won the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup once He also played 26 times for the England national football team Brian LaboneLabone at the 1970 FIFA World CupPersonal informationFull nameBrian Leslie LaboneDate of birth23 January 1940Place of birthLiverpool Lancashire EnglandDate of death24 April 2006 2006 04 24 aged 66 Place of deathLiverpool EnglandPosition s Centre halfSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1958 1971Everton451 2 International career1962 1970England26 0 Club domestic league appearances and goals Contents 1 Biography 2 Education 3 Playing career 3 1 Post playing and death 4 Honours 5 References 6 External linksBiography editBrian Labone was born in Liverpool England on 23 January 1940 His parents were Arthur Leslie Labone and Bridget Patricia Rice The Labone family have distant Italian roots on his paternal side through an ancestor called Nicholas Antonio Labone who taught various foreign languages in Glasgow Scotland He was also of Irish descent on his mother Bridget Patricia Rice side 1 2 Education editLabone attended the Liverpool Collegiate School Playing career editLiverpool born Labone chose to join Everton at 17 in July 1957 instead of going to university His debut for the first team was in 1958 1 He was widely regarded as one of the best central defenders of his era He was a strong tackler good in the air adequately fast but he rarely used his left foot Labone made 451 League appearances for Everton and a total of 534 in all competitions 1 He scored two league goals and was booked only twice throughout his career Manager Harry Catterick called him the last of the Corinthians Labone played in the championship teams of 1962 63 and 1969 70 in the FA Cup winning team of 1966 and in the FA Cup final of 1968 He also won the FA Charity Shield in 1963 and 1970 3 4 Labone showed his high opinion of Everton in a simple quote One Evertonian is worth twenty Liverpudlians Labone played 26 times for England between 1962 and 1970 He withdrew from England s 1966 World Cup squad because of his imminent marriage but played in three of the four games in the World Cup in 1970 in Mexico In 1970 71 Labone sustained a serious injury to his Achilles tendon and retired from playing A few years earlier he had announced at the beginning of the season his intention to retire at the end of that season in typical fashion giving the club as much notice as possible so that he could be replaced Such was the outcry however that he changed his mind and played on for two more seasons Post playing and death edit Labone maintained his links with Everton where he worked as a guide for guests amp visitors and a website columnist Labone was included in Everton s Greatest Ever Team 5 as voted for by the fans at the start of the 2003 04 season to mark the club s 125th anniversary Whilst returning home from an Everton fans awards evening at the Winslow Hotel in Walton Labone died suddenly after collapsing in the street close to his Lydiate home at the age of 66 He was survived by Pat his wife of 40 years 6 and daughter Rachelle born 1970 Another former Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe paid the following tribute Brian was Everton If you could put together a team of every player that has ever captained Everton every one of us would turn to Brian to lead us out He will always be known as the captain of Everton Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright also paid tribute by saying On the foot of the Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park are the words Footballer Gentleman Evertonian Those words summed up Dixie and they apply equally to the great Brian Labone 7 Part of Everton s home ground Goodison Park was named in his honour 8 Honours editEverton 9 Football League First Division 1962 63 1969 70 FA Cup 1965 66 FA Charity Shield 1963 1970 10 11 References edit a b c Brian Labone Everton F C Archived from the original on 13 November 2011 Retrieved 19 October 2011 Ancestry 1963 64 Charity Shield footballsite co uk Retrieved 12 April 2020 1970 71 Charity Shield footballsite co uk Archived from the original on 7 November 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2020 Greatest Ever Everton Team Archived from the original on 4 February 2012 Retrieved 13 May 2008 Liverpool Echo Everton bid farewell to last of the Corinthians The Guardian 25 April 2006 Archived from the original on 23 January 2021 Brian Labone Suite Everton F C Retrieved 23 July 2009 Szczepanik Nick 11 June 2012 Gordon West obituary The Guardian Retrieved 12 June 2012 1963 64 Charity Shield footballsite co uk Retrieved 12 April 2020 1970 71 Charity Shield footballsite co uk Archived from the original on 7 November 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2020 External links editBBC Online report of his death Everton mourn former captain Labone The Daily Telegraph 25 April 2006 Sporting positionsPreceded byRoy Vernon Everton captain1965 1970 Succeeded byAlan Ball Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brian Labone amp oldid 1181944399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
