IT WAS also farewell to Yakubu and Jermaine Beckford on D-Day, and while both had decidedly mixed Everton fortunes, they did bring cause for cheer on occasion.
Yakubu was the victim of a horrific injury, after which he was never the same – and the Nigerian was not particularly inclined to run beforehand.
But his first season, when 21 goals flowed in 39 games, was memorable for Goodison seeing a striker at the top of his game, with bona fide goal scoring instincts, a wide, ready smile and a celebration that brought a grin to the terraces.
The Yak was not just decent on the pitch. In Easter 2010 he visited Wirral’s Claire House hospice along with his lovely young wife and daughter and was so humbled by the courage of the children there he signed a cheque so sizeable it put smiles on the faces of the dedicated team of staff.
As for Beckford, he rarely granted interviews, but his laid-back nature and popularity at Finch Farm was beyond doubt. He may have irked David Moyes by memorably arriving late for the 1-0 FA Cup embarrassment by Reading last season, but he also scored 10 goals in his debut campaign after stepping up two divisions.
