The Official Everton Podcast

Former midfielder Mark Ward discusses his career journey and road to redemption in the latest edition of the Official Everton Podcast. Learn how Ward recovered from the "bombshell" of being released by Everton as an 18-year-old in 1981 to fight his way back to sign for the Blues under Howard Kendall a decade later - and how he "broke down" on learning of the transfer from his then-Manchester City boss Peter Reid. Discover how the teenage Ward would expend so much effort in training trying to compensate for a perceived lack of athleticism he would end sessions by being "physically sick". Hear about the time he ran two hours to training - and then scored a hat-trick that weekend. Learn why he credits another Blues legend in Joe Royle for reigniting his football career. Hear his personal experiences of being resident in New York and seeing the harrowing aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. And understand the circumstances that led to him being jailed for eight years in October 2005, a sentence of which he would serve half.

Recorded on the eve of the new WSL season, Hayley Raso discusses her long wait for a Blues debut and what fellow Australian Tim Cahill told her about the Club in the first of a new series for the Official Everton Podcast. Listen to Raso explain how she recovered from damaging three vertebrae in her back to play and score in a World Cup finals just 12 months later, why a broken nose and the coronavirus delayed her new life on Merseyside, and how she is balancing football with studying for a future career as a paramedic. Raso also talks about getting to know the city of Liverpool through her love of coffee, being one of six siblings, and fighting back from being released by Washington Spirit to be crowned a National Women's Super League champion with Portland Thorns. The laid-back podcast kicks off a series that will see Sarah Halpin and Davie Thompson get to know all of the new faces in the Everton Women squad.

In a new mini-series for the Official Everton Podcast, we're speaking to former Blues about their careers and life journeys after leaving Goodison Park. Our latest guest, Jack Rodwell, joined Everton aged seven and rose through the ranks to make his First-Team debut in 2007 aged just 16. He went on to play for England's senior team four years later and would collect a Premier League title winner's medal at Manchester City before falling to League One – and falling out of favour – at Sunderland. In another fascinating edition of the Official Everton Podcast, Rodwell explains what he would now say to a 16-year-old version of himself, why he refuses to have regrets about his rollercoaster football journey, and discusses what drove his successful climb back to the Premier League with Sheffield United last season. Rodwell also talks about Wayne Rooney's role in his ascension through Everton's Academy sides, missing the 2009 FA Cup final, how "ultimate professional" Phil Neville was really "one of the lads", and living under the scrutiny of the Sunderland 'Til I Die cameras. The Southport-born midfielder goes on to pay tribute to his ex-City colleague Gareth Barry and express his hopes Sunderland and another of his former teams, Blackburn Rovers, one day reestablish themselves as pedigree top-flight clubs.

In a new mini series for the Official Everton Podcast, we're speaking to former Blues about their careers and life journeys after leaving Everton. Our latest guest, Jose Baxter, became the Club's youngest ever player in August 2008 when he appeared in a Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers aged just 16 years and 191 days. Tipped for stardom, he went on to run out for Everton's First Team on just a further 14 occasions. Spells at Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United followed before, in August 2016, Baxter was banned from football for 12 months for failing a drugs test. He credits Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright, CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Under-23s boss David Unsworth with helping him get his career back on track - and paving the way to him joining his current side, Memphis 901 FC, the team co-owned by his former Toffees colleague Tim Howard. Listen to our candid chat with Baxter, in which he discusses the dark days following his suspension from the game and how his family and Everton steered him back to the career he loves.

In a special edition of the Official Everton Podcast, Victor Anichebe and Ben Osu of the Anthony Walker Foundation (AWF) shared their experiences as black men growing up in Liverpool. The BBC One drama Anthony, to be broadcast at 8.30pm on Monday (27 July), will revisit the murder of 18-year-old Anthony in Huyton 15 years ago, and imagine the life he could have had. Former Everton striker Anichebe was 17 at the time of Anthony’s death and profoundly affected by the racially-motivated killing. He told Osu, Strategy Lead of the AWF, about his own encounters with racism after moving with his parents from Nigeria to England. The pair talked about the ongoing campaign for racial justice after unarmed black man George Floyd died following his arrest in Minneapolis – and the emotions triggered by events of the past two months.

In the first of a new mini-series that will see the Official Everton Podcast speak to former players about their time at Goodison Park and career and life journeys after leaving the Blues, we catch up with Joleon Lescott. Listen now to hear the defender discuss his tough introduction to life at Everton, his role in paving the way for the Blues' signing of Leighton Baines, the circumstances surrounding his 2009 move to Manchester City and a post-Everton career that included spells with West Brom, Aston Villa, AEK Athens, Sunderland... and, so very nearly, LA Galaxy.

Francis Jeffers and Sander Westerveld reliving their infamous Anfield dust-up nearly 21 years after the pair were sent off for squabbling in a Merseyside derby. Don Hutchison explaining Walter Smith’s extraordinary departure from Everton’s usual warm-down routine the morning after winning across Stanley Park. Reflections on the derby goal that never was when Hutchison deflected a free-kick from goalkeeper Westerveld into the Gwladys Street net. Dutchman Westerveld on gladly setting aside his Liverpool allegiances to agree a shock loan move to Everton. All this and much more as Francis Jeffers, Don Hutchison and Sander Westerveld feature on The Official Everton Podcast.

Why the 1985/86 Everton side was the greatest team Gary Lineker played in. How he finally decided to join Barcelona after weeks of deliberation – and his regret at not staying at Goodison for longer to play for ‘one of Europe’s greatest teams’. The former striker’s love for Howard Kendall, and admiration for current Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti. And how Dominic Calvert-Lewin can become one of England’s top forwards. All this and much more with BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker in The Official Everton Podcast.

In what inventive way did Gazza imitate Gary Naysmith's dad's moustache? How did Richard Gough leave David Moyes needing "about nine stitches"? Why could Thomas Gravesen not follow the rules? And why is Naysmith still scared of Archie Knox now?

Peter Reid and Adrian Heath are joined by Howard Kendall's son, Simon, to discuss what made Everton's greatest boss the master tactician and man manager he was, how he dealt with pressure away from the pitch and, in Simon's case, what it is like being the child of a serial-winner football legend.