Bob Latchford: 30

http://www.boblatchford.com/

There's never a truer hero than in times of crisis. When all else around disappoints and there's nothing else to shout about, oh how we savour a saviour. Bob Latchford was such a legend.

In the 1970s Everton were a top flight force, but underperforming given the nature and expectations of the club. We almost added silverware (league cup finalists 1977, and came close to the title in 1974/75), but compared to the decades either side it was pretty grim.

Champions at the dawn of the decade, it'd be 14 years for the next major honour.
Throughout this time though we had a hero, someone whose career will forever be remembered for that magical season 1977/78 where he became the focus of the English game - he scored 30 goals.

Everton's strikers have a history of goalscoring pedigree, and we idolize our number 9s. From William Dean's record breaking exploits (something that will never, ever, be surpassed) through Alex Young and Tommy Lawton, onto Gary Linekar and Graeme Sharp. Duncan Ferguson, like Latchford before him, became a beacon of worship amidst lean years, and now a dismal administration means the heroes of the future - Francis Jeffers, Wayne Rooney - are inevitably cashed in.

But back to Latchford, and that majestic 1977/78 campaign. It'd been 7 years since anyone had scored more than 30 in a season (yes Quinn, it was Franny Lee but 13 were penalties...) and the nation wondered if it'd ever be done again. Cue a £10,000 prize offered by the Daily Express and a tense finale on the last day of the season. Everton took on Chelsea, and Latchford was on 28 goals. The big man duly obliged with a brace, and then gave most of the prize money away.

Today sees the launch of 30: The Story of Bob Latchford's 1977/78 Season, a pictorial book charting each goal. As part of the promo he's given an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, which can be downloaded here.ram. Also check out ToffeeWeb for launch photos.

Once more, Bob's giving all proceeds away to charity, and this epic story will be of interest to football fans of all flavours, especially those (unlike myself) who were alive in the 70s and might have seen him play.

See a photo of every goal by clicking here.

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