JOHN MANVILLE has been keeping Goodison Park looking at its best for more than three decades.
The 63-year-old painter and decorator from Everton picked up the award for Unsung Hero at the North West Football Awards 2012 at Lancashire Cricket Club on Monday night.
And John insists there is nowhere else he would rather work. “I absolutely love it,” he said. “Goodison might be getting on a bit compared to the new stadiums – but it has character and you can’t buy that.
“When I started in 1979 the building trade was a bit uncertain and you were normally let go from a job after six weeks and had to find another.
“So when I was lucky enough to offered some work at Everton I was dreading the end of six weeks. I’m from a family of Blues and my dad played Sunday league with Dixie Dean. I’d been working at Bellefield and met Gordon Lee – I was in my element. So when the stadium manager told me I was being let go I was really disappointed, until he added that I could start again the next day! Eventually I replaced the retiring painter.
“There have been so many highlights. Getting to know Howard Kendall, Neville Southall, Mick Lyons and Bob Latchford. I couldn’t have asked for a better job and I was very proud to get the award, particularly as it was kept a surprise until my name was read out. I want to finish my time here.”
