‘It’s something I never expected’ – Joe Royle receives Everton honour

Former Everton player and manager Joe Royle has spoken of the “great honour” of having the driveway at the club’s Finch Farm training complex named after him

Former Everton player and manager Joe Royle (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Everton Giant, Joe Royle, has been honoured by becoming the first person to have a roadway named after him inside the club’s Finch Farm training ground. The driveway from the gates of the club’s Halewood training complex to the main buildings will be renamed Joe Royle Lane in honour of the man who won the League Championship with the Blues as a player and FA Cup as manager, the most recent piece of major silverware lifted by the club.

At a special ceremony, the newly christened road signage was unveiled with the club legend and members of his family in attendance.

After being initially informed of the news of the dedication in April on his 75th birthday, the poignancy of the unveiling in 2024 has not been lost.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Joe leaving the club as a player to join Manchester City and it is 30 years in November since he returned as manager. A poll carried out amongst Evertonians through club partner Socios’ app saw Joe Royle Lane come out as the most popular choice from several options.

Everton legends Graham Stuart and Ian Snodin lay tributes at the scene

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info

Royle said: “I am very proud, it’s something I never expected. It’s a great honour and I really mean that.”

Everton’s interim chief executive Colin Chong said: “Joe is genuine Everton royalty and it is absolutely appropriate that he should be recognised in this fashion. I have had the privilege of getting to know Joe and being in his company and he is an incredibly warm, witty and intelligent family man as well as being a passionate Evertonian.

“There are not many people that have had a greater impact on this football club than Joe Royle, and today we have seen how proud he and his family are of this deserved dedication.”

Attending Ranworth Square Primary School in Norris Green and Quarry Bank High School in Allerton, Royle is regarded as one of Everton’s most iconic figures and was inducted as an Everton Giant in 2004.

For almost 40 years he was the youngest player ever to run out for Everton, having made his debut at Blackpool in 1966 as a 16-year-old and it was a record he proudly held until 2008.

Joe Royle has been honoured by becoming the first person to have a roadway named after him inside Everton’s Finch Farm training ground

While other players have appeared in cup ties at a younger age, Jose Baxter, who claimed the youngest player mantle by 84 days, is still the only other footballer to have started a league match at a younger age.

Royle went on to win a League Championship medal in 1969/70, when he top scored for Harry Catterick’s fabled side with 23 goals. Only four players have scored more for Everton in the club’s entire history.

He left to join Manchester City in 1974, where he added to his England caps, and after spells at Bristol City and Norwich City famously scored his final career goal, for the Canaries, at Goodison Park.

Returning to Everton as manager 30 years ago in November, Royle effected a miraculous escape from relegation with the club bottom of the league after 14 matches having won just once. He then guided the Blues to FA Cup glory at Wembley in 1995, beating Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in the final.

For the final match of the 2015/16 season, Royle made an emotional return as joint caretaker manager – alongside one of his FA Cup winners David Unsworth – as Everton beat Norwich City 3-0. Now in retirement, he remains a regular visitor to Goodison Park.