Jimmy O’Neill

Dec 19 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

ONLY the most resilient tufts of grass peeped through the sanded mud, torn by countless tussling boots, where the tall man stood in his high-necked green jersey – the last line of defence and final hope of hundreds of boys, praying in treble voices, and penned in their section of the Gwladys Street terrace.

“Come on Jimmy, dive!” and the tall fella with elastic arms stretched again to palm the ball to safety with one of his great, gloved hands.

He was particularly good at intercepting crosses and his reach was the envy of other goal-keepers.

That was why Everton had signed Jimmy O’Neill from amateur football in his native Dublin, where his father Maurice was an Irish golf champion.

The club was looking to replace the legendary Ted Sagar, one of the finest ’keepers of any age, with hands as steady as Moses gripping the Ten Commandments.

O’Neill made his debut in season 1950/51, when the Blues’ residency in the First Division came to a rude end.

But the fans remained steadfast and Goodison Park was stuffed every other Saturday with huge crowds, following players with names such as Donovan, Farrell, Lello, McNamara and Eglington, all riding the tram to the ground.

Everton then were seen by some as an Irish team and O’Neill was capped 17 times for Eire.

His 213 Everton appearances included the epic semi-final at Maine Road, Manchester, when Everton were trailing 4-0 to Bolton Wanderers, then led by Nat Lofthouse, hailed the Lion of Vienna after England’s 3-2 win over Austria. But Everton, inspired by the valiant Dave Hickson, scored three times in a nerve-shredding finish.

O’Neill’s acrobatic ’keeping featured prominently in Everton’s promotion back to the First Division in 1954.

In 1958, O’Neill slipped into the reserves and was signed for Stoke in 1959 and helped them win promotion to the First Division four years later.

He also had spells with Darlington and Port Vale, before becoming a driver and settling in Ormskirk with his wife, Angela, and four children.

O’Neill, gentleman, devoted Evertonian and firm friend of the old boys, smiled and took his place in the stand before matches.

“He’ll be able to watch the away games as well now,” Angela said. The funeral is at St Anne’s Ormskirk at 10am on Friday.

Jimmy O’Neill, goalkeeper; born October 13, 1931, died December 15, 2007