The unveiling of a statue honoring former Everton manager Walter Smith has reignited the desire among the Blues’ fanbase to see Neville Southall honored when they move to their new stadium.
Ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Cup final defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic at Hampden Park on Saturday, a statue of Smith, who passed away in 2021 after battling cancer, was publicly presented for the first time. Smith’s family, including his widow Ethel, sons Neil and Steven, and grandchildren, were in attendance as a blue cover was removed to reveal a bronze sculpture of the late Rangers boss outside of Ibrox Stadium.
The statue was designed and sculpted by London artist Douglas Jennings, known for works including a statue of Queen Elizabeth II in London and statues of England World Cup-winning footballers Jack Charlton and George Cohen. Though Smith’s tenure at Everton didn’t match his successes in Scotland, he led Rangers to numerous League Championships and cups during his time as manager.
While Smith’s statue garners attention, Neville Southall, a pivotal figure in Everton’s history, remains overlooked. Southall, the only survivor from the team that achieved significant success under Howard Kendall in the 1980s, is Everton’s most-decorated player, having helped secure two League Championships, an FA Cup, and European Cup Winners’ Cup. He also holds the record for most appearances for Everton, with 751 appearances between 1981 and 1997.
During his tenure at Goodison Park, Southall was widely regarded as the world’s top goalkeeper. The idea of having a player of such caliber at a club like Everton today seems almost unimaginable.
