'I’ve never felt prouder to be a Blue' - Gordon Lee's classy gesture plus 'odd' conversations with Everton players

Gordon Lee’s death this week prompted a fresh look at his time as Everton manager and Kevin Ratcliffe has lifted the lid on what it was like to play for him.

Originally from landlocked Cannock in Staffordshire, Lee, who had retired to Lytham St Anne’s on the Fylde coast, passed away on Monday evening aged 87.

Having arrived at Goodison Park in January 1977 following spells in charge of Port Vale, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, Lee was Blues boss for four-and-a-half years until May 1981 before subsequent spells with Preston North End, Icelandic side KR Reykjavik and a caretaker stint at Leicester City.

Although the general consensus is that Lee was a thoroughly-decent and honest man, Ratcliffe, found him a somewhat eccentric personality to deal with.

Under his next manager Howard Kendall, the Welshman would go on to become Everton’s most-successful captain, lifting two League Championships, the FA Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

With 493 outings for the club, Ratcliffe is also fifth on the all-time appearance list but it was Lee who handed him his debut in a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 12, 1980.

Now 61, he recalls that going into Lee’s managerial office at Everton could be a baffling experience for a young professional like himself.

Ratcliffe told the ECHO: “Gordon was a real gentleman and I had utter respect for him but he was an odd character to play under.

“Given that I was only just starting out when he was manager, there was a big age difference between us and in some ways it was like talking to your dad.

“If you went in to see him about something because you weren’t happy – perhaps because you’d been left out – after about five minutes talking to him you’d forget what you’d