Bill Kenwright tribute after Everton hero Terry Darracott passes away | OneFootball

Former Everton player and coach Terry Darracott has passed away. He was 71 years of age.

Darracott played 179 times for Everton following his debut in April 1968 after he opted to join the club over Liverpool.

After leaving Everton in 1979, Darracott enjoyed a short spell with Tulsa Roughnecks in the United States. He then returned to the UK to join Wrexham before retiring from playing after a season with the club.

The former full-back then returned to Goodison Park and worked under both Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey on the club's coaching staff.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright paid tribute, stating: “Terry was a fearsome defender, who cared passionately about Everton and was so proud to play for the Club.

“You could see in him an authentic 'they-shall-not-pass' attitude, he would gladly put his body on the line for Everton and was a footballer with the heart of a lion.

“Terry was a member of one of my favourite Everton teams under Gordon Lee and it is so sad that we have lost these two special men in such a short space of time.

“With a stroke of fortune, Terry and Gordon would have won the League Cup after those epic finals against Aston Villa in 1977 and for a period the following season we competed at the top of the league.

“Terry was still the same, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and driven man – with that familiar fondness for a joke – when he came back to Goodison to work with Howard and he cared deeply about our club. He was a staunch, blue-blooded Evertonian and we will miss him enormously."