Reid reflects on '85

Peter Reid looks back on a glittering 1985 with Everton, which saw him named PFA Player of the Year.

For Everton fans, Peter Reid is a name synonymous with the legendary 1985 campaign - a season yet to be bettered by a Toffees side. That year saw the Merseysiders pick up an unprecedented three pieces of silverware as they stormed to league championship, European Cup Winners' Cup and Charity Shield success, while missing out on FA Cup victory by a whisker. Reid was central to much of that glory, with his exploits at the heart of the Toffees' side earning him massive plaudits - as well as the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. While self-effacing over his personal accolades, preferring to credit Everton's success that year to an outstanding manager and squad, Reid admits it meant something to be voted for by players he faced as rivals on a weekly basis. He told Sky Sports: "I think when your peers, the people you play against and kick every week, vote you the player of the year, it's a fantastic honour. "It was obviously a successful year for Everton. Neville Southall won the Football Writers' award, I won the PFA one, we were champions, we won the European Cup Winners' Cup. It was an incredible season for Everton and a really good one for me personally." The former England international also finished fourth in the World Soccer Player of Year award but finds that achievement more difficult to come to terms with, even now. He laughs: "I think I came in behind Michel Platini, Preben Elkjaer and Diego Maradona. There must have been some bad players about if I've come fourth in that." Despite his modesty, there's no denying the impact had on Everton's most decorated team. Signed for a measly £60,000 from Bolton in 1982, Reid gave everything for a side he believes struck a perfect balance. "It was one of those sides you get every now and then where everything clicked," he said. "It was a good, balanced side. It had real good balance to it. It was a physical side and it was a side that could play football. "The balance with the two wide men, Kevin Sheedy and Trevor Steven, it was a side that had an awful lot of pace. "What you've got to say, even though the squads weren't as big in those days as they are now, I think players came in and did jobs. I remember Kevin Richardson and Alan Harper doing fantastic jobs coming into the side. "Our goalkeeper (Southall) was also certainly a massive influence on us. He's one of the main reasons we won all the trophies we did."

Kendall

At head of proceedings, and largely responsible for Everton's success, according to Reid, was Howard Kendall. Having assembled a squad capable of challenging for honours, Reid fondly recalls how the boss kept his charges smiling after a rare defeat with a morale-boosting trip to the local Chinese and - more often than not - a few beers. "He was very astute tactically, but very good at getting the team spirit going as well," explains Reid. "People go on about different formations nowadays but we played different formations at Everton in the mid-80s and nothing was said about it. "Howard was also a really good man-manager beside being shrewd tactically. He had a tremendous team spirit going. "I think if we did get beaten in a game, which was very rare, he used to take us out for a Chinese. And that meant a drink as well. We invariably bounced back after that." Kendall guided his Everton side to a host of high-profile triumps during the campaign but particularly