Graham Sharp named Everton player's Life President

Everton Football Club is delighted to confirm the appointment of Graeme Sharp as the Club’s Players’ Life President.

The ‘Everton Giant’ has been given the new prestigious role by Chairman Bill Kenwright and the Goodison Board of Directors in recognition of his exemplary service for the Club across four decades.

Everton’s post-war leading scorer, he is second only to Dixie Dean in the Club's pantheon of goalscoring greats. ‘Sharpy’ netted 160 goals in 447 appearances during a glittering playing career that saw him win two League titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup with the Blues between 1980 and 1991. He returned to Goodison in an ambassadorial position in 2000.

His ambassadorial duties will continue as part of his new role but he will take on enhanced responsibilities, including becoming an advisor to the Board of Directors.

Everton Chairman, Mr Kenwright, said: “Other than Dixie, Sharpy has scored more goals for Everton than any player in our history, which is quite extraordinary and sums up what an Everton legend he is.

“As a player, he had skill, he had finesse but he was and still is such a humble lad who is grateful to remain part of Everton and that makes me even more grateful to have him.

“It’s all about the DNA with Evertonians and Sharpy has that. That is the reason why we asked him to be the Players’ Life President.

“Sharpy was a major part of the Club’s greatest period ever. He’s not only kept that love of Everton, he’s kept the Everton DNA and that’s why the fans love him.

“I could not imagine Everton without Graeme Sharp.”

Sharp will act as a senior Everton representative across national and international media in a position which will also see him become a valuable source of knowledge and experienced point of contact for the Club’s Captain, Board, Academy, Executive Leadership team and First-Team Management staff.

He will play an active role in supporting the Club executives to develop and maintain the right culture and behaviours across the Club and will continue to contribute to the growth and extended reach of the Club’s Official Charity, Everton in the Community.

A talisman striker with an impressive goalscoring ratio and an eye for the spectacular, he signed from Dumbarton as a teenager for a fee of £120,000 in April 1980 and was able to mature into a key player in Howard Kendall’s Everton side during the greatest trophy-winning period in the Club’s history. An inspirational figure for the Blues, his influence was epitomised during the 1984/85 season as Everton completed a unique double as League and European Cup Winners’ Cup champions.

The Scotsman also finished that season as the Club’s top scorer with 30 goals including goals in the Blues’ historic home win over Bayern Munich in the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final and a memorable Merseyside derby winner at Anfield – which was awarded the 1984/85 Goal of the Season.

Adored by Evertonians, his rise at Everton was recognised by Scotland manager Jock Stein who gave him his international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Iceland in 1985 as he went on to win 12 caps for his country including an appearance in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

After leaving Everton to join Oldham in 1991, Sharp returned to the Blues in 2000 in an ambassadorial role.

In 2005 Sharp was inducted as an ‘Everton Giant’.

Speaking about his new role, Sharp said: “It is a huge honour for me to be asked by Everton to become the Club’s first Players’ Life President. Everton Football Club has been part of mine and my family’s life for so many years and we have so many cherished memories from both my time as a player and in my role as an ambassador. It has been - and will continue to be - a privilege engaging with our passionate global fanbase.

“I have been fortunate enough to represent Everton around the world and the way in which the supporters, current and former management teams and staff, and our current and former players are connected to and have a bond with the Club makes Everton special. The ambition shown by Mr Moshiri, the Chairman and the Board at Everton means it is a really exciting time to be an Evertonian. I look forward to being able to work with all the people who make our Club what it is and represent them in my new role."

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