Joe Royle
Former player and manager
Joe Royle became the youngest player to play for Everton in February 1966.
A number of clubs were interested in signing Joe Royle but it was his home town club of Everton who succeeded in recruiting him. He made his debut in 1966 at the age of 16 and held the record of being the youngest ever player to play for Everton until James Vaughan in 2005.
Royle struck 119 goals in 276 matches for the Blues. He was awarded the first of his six England caps against Malta in 1971 and held the record as being the youngest England player to score a goal until Michael Owen and latterly Wayne Rooney. Injury forced a premature end to his career at 32, after spells with Manchester City, Bristol City, and Norwich. Then he became 'the manager who fell of the back of a lorry' when joining Oldham in 1982. Fourteen fantastic, fairytale years followed at the hard-up, homespun Lancashire club which Royle put on the soccer map. Oldham achieved the impossible by going to Wembley and spending three years in the Premiership. Then, it was off to Everton, to Manchester City, and to Ipswich as manager.
Royle struck 119 goals in 276 matches for the Blues. He was awarded the first of his six England caps against Malta in 1971 and held the record as being the youngest England player to score a goal until Michael Owen and latterly Wayne Rooney. Injury forced a premature end to his career at 32, after spells with Manchester City, Bristol City, and Norwich. Then he became 'the manager who fell of the back of a lorry' when joining Oldham in 1982. Fourteen fantastic, fairytale years followed at the hard-up, homespun Lancashire club which Royle put on the soccer map. Oldham achieved the impossible by going to Wembley and spending three years in the Premiership. Then, it was off to Everton, to Manchester City, and to Ipswich as manager.