Everton legend Colin Harvey pays tribute to John Hurst with Bobby Moore claim

Former Everton player and manager Colin Harvey has paid tribute to his Goodison Park team-mate John Hurst who has died aged 76

Everton legend Colin Harvey has paid tribute to former team-mate John Hurst by declaring that it was only because the Blues stalwart was playing in the same era as World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore that prevented him from becoming a star of the England team.

Hurst, who is 18th on Everton’s all-time appearance list having played 404 games for the club and an ever-present in the 1969/70 League Championship-winning team, turning out alongside Harvey, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday aged 76, following a long illness. The Blackpool-born player came up through the Blues’ youth system, making his senior debut in a 1-1 draw at Stoke City on August 28, 1965 when he replaced Fred Pickering in the 83rd minute to become the club’s first-ever substitute.

Harvey told the ECHO: “It was only because Bobby Moore was around at the same time that stopped John from playing for England, he was that good a player. He came as a striker as a kid when he first arrived but Harry Catterick converted him into the original ball-playing centre-half.

“Because of his early days at centre-forward, John maintained his eye for a goal and he popped up with quite a few winners or late equalisers for us at important times. He was a fabulous footballer but an even better man.

“Although he was quite quiet, he was very droll. He was a genuine good fella.”

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Harvey also revealed his personal role in Hurst’s unusual shirt number for a defensive-minded player. He said: “John and Brian Labone were a fabulous pairing at the back.

“He wore the number 10 jersey because I’d had the number 10 and I’d been to see Harry Catterick. You were supposed to be a goalscorer at Everton when you wore the number 10 back then because of Roy Vernon.

“I was never prolific so asked if I could wear six instead so John changed to 10 which was very accommodating of him. It was typical of the man.”