West Ham v Everton: Tony Cottee still irked by missing out on medals at Goodison

07 November 2009 05:00
Tony Cottee 300[LNB]TONY Cottee is not usually one for regrets, but something still nags.[LNB]The former Everton striker enjoyed a 19 year career as a professional, won caps for his country and plaudits as one of the best strikers of his era - now he is carving out a successful life as a pundit.[LNB]But as much as the 44-year-old looks back at his time at Goodison Park with an ever increasing fondness, aided by the 99 goals he scored to place him ninth in the club's all-time scoring charts, it is the lack of winners' medal in his trophy cabinet as a Blue which continues to leave a sour taste in his mouth.[LNB]'To be there six years and not win anything after the club won the league the year before and then won the cup in 1995, the season after I left, pretty much sums it up. I was part of that six years that went without winning something - it is especially frustrating given the Everton fans are so passionate and desperate for success', Cottee recalls.[LNB]'We had some really good players, but the club was going through a transitional phase with a lot of the players who had been so successful, were coming to end of their careers and had to be replaced with younger players. I think it just took a while for us all to gel but when we did, I felt we were good enough to beat anyone on our day, so it was frustrating.[LNB]'I probably should have won more England caps, I won four in my first season at Everton but at the start of the second season the club bought Mike Newell to play alongside Graeme Sharp and I lost my place in a World Cup year. I regained it towards the end of the season but it was a little too late so I never made the squad and never really found my form.[LNB]'I had a few run-ins with Howard Kendall and lost my place so it was one problem after another, I was never consistently playing in the team. Whereas at West Ham I was playing week in, week out and was doing the business. But I must be happy with my seven caps, because a lot of good players don't ever get one.[LNB]'I did have six wonderful years at the club and my daughter was born in Southport. I had a great time there but I just think it was a shame we didn't quite win the medals we wanted to win, but in terms of goal scoring, I think I did my job.'[LNB]Cottee's arrival at Goodison Park from West Ham United for £2.2m in the summer of 1988 was anything but low key, as his capture was supposed to be the stellar signing Colin Harvey hoped would bring the First Division championship back to Everton.

Source: Liverpool_Echo