BadboyMustyGraeme Sharp, one of Everton Football Club’s greatest ever players, finds himself in a painful and complex situation with the club he once served so brilliantly. Sharp, Everton’s top post-war goalscorer and a key member of their most successful team, recently spoke at Liverpool’s Bridewell pub, a venue where several members of the extraordinary 1984/85 side have shared memories. However, Sharp’s appearance was tinged with uncertainty and sadness.
The root of this unfortunate situation dates back to January 2022, when Sharp accepted an invitation from the late Bill Kenwright to join Everton’s board as an unpaid ‘advisor’, intended to provide a link to the club’s more successful past. However, as Everton’s fortunes declined, Sharp found himself associated with the club’s mismanagement in the eyes of some fans. The situation deteriorated to the point where he, along with other board members, was advised to stay away from Goodison Park for his own safety. Some fans even raised banners demanding “Sharp Out,” showing a stark lack of respect for one of the club’s greatest servants.
Sharp last attended an Everton match in January 2022 and resigned from his position six months later. At the recent Bridewell event, when urged by attendees to return to Goodison Park, Sharp’s emotional response – “I’ll never go back. I can never go back” – revealed the depth of his hurt and alienation from the club he loves.
This situation is particularly poignant as Everton approaches the 40th anniversary of their extraordinary 1984/85 season, coinciding with the club’s impending departure from Goodison Park. There are fears among Sharp’s former teammates – including Adrian Heath, Peter Reid, Kevin Sheedy, Andy Gray, and Kevin Ratcliffe – that he may be marginalized during what should be a significant celebration of the club’s history.
Sharp’s contributions to Everton were immense. He scored 159 goals in 446 appearances, many of them crucial and spectacular. He is particularly remembered for a stunning goal against Liverpool 40 years ago that helped spark Everton’s title-winning season. His skill, hold-up play, and selflessness made him a fan favorite and a key figure in Everton’s success.
The controversy surrounding Sharp stems from his perceived unwillingness to resign from the board on principle as Everton struggled, and from an interview he gave while staying away from Goodison on security advice. In the interview, he suggested some anti-Everton protests had gone “over the top” and praised the club’s chief executive for her work on the new stadium project. While these comments were relatively mild, in the highly charged atmosphere of modern football fandom, they were enough to turn some supporters against him.
There’s a growing sentiment among Sharp’s former teammates and many fans that efforts should be made to bring him back into the Everton fold, especially as the club prepares to leave Goodison Park. Some suggest that entreaties from the prospective new owners, the Friedkin Group, could help heal the rift. However, Sharp will also need to overcome his own fears and hesitations about returning.
The situation highlights the complex and often fraught relationships between beloved former players, modern football club management, and passionate fan bases. It also underscores the importance of preserving and honoring a club’s history and legends, even in times of struggle and change.
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