Jimmy Martin, Everton’s famed former long-serving kit manager, has called the club’s 10-point deduction a “disgrace,” but he believes the Blues will remain up.
Martin, 75, who will appear in Jag’s & Jimmy’s Blue Christmas later this month, retired from Goodison Park this summer after more than four decades of service. During that time, and indeed throughout the 135-year history of English top flight football, no other side has ever received such a significant sporting sanction.
Despite the fact that Sean Dyche’s team would now be 12th in the table based on their results this season, the penalty ensured they briefly dropped to the bottom on Saturday evening before picking up their first points since the penalty in the shape of a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. Only Tottenham Hotspur have picked up more points on the road in the Premier League this season than Everton, and Martin remains convinced that the Blues will avoid relegation.
“The Everton way is respect,” he told the ECHO. You look out for one another, and they are doing so now. I know we’ve just had 10 points deducted from us, which I believe is a travesty, but they’ll pull it off because that’s what Everton do.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the points deduction because I was in Liverpool doing a podcast at the time.” It’s as if they’re targeting Everton.
“There are worse clubs than us that have spent millions and billions of dollars, but they get away with it.” You can understand fans going around saying the Premier League is corrupt – I’m not saying it is – but this gives the impression that they are targeting one club.
“I think this will just give the team that extra determination though for the rest of the season. I feel for Everton but we’ll pull ourselves back up again.
“We’re the best club in the Premier League, by far. I’ve been to all the clubs in the Premier League but all the other kit men would savour coming to Everton and going into the players’ lounge.
“They’d all be asking what time they were getting their chicken nuggets and chips. That’s how you get to meet people and when I go to their ground, I expect them to do the same for me.”
Martin still has many friends in the Finch Farm area, and the shed in his back garden serves as a memorial to his time at Everton. There’s a large framed portrait of him with current first teamers Seamus Coleman and Jordan Pickford, as well as a signed shirt from Neville Southall, a crystal boot from Steven Pienaar, and a commemorative trophy from Tim Cahill.
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Despite the fact that they only worked together for half a season, Blues manager Dyche maintains in touch. “The manager has been fantastic with me; he texts me all the time to see how I’m doing, and Seamus does as well, and I’m also good friends with Jordan Pickford,” Martin said. He’s called ‘Painful’ because he’s painful.
“We used to have him in the kit room every day trying to cause havoc. He comes in and says: ‘What about that?’ and tells you a pack of lies, thinking you’re going to believe him.
“I’d just tell him to get out. You’d think he was one of the best-dressed goalkeepers but really he’s a tramp.
“I remember when Seamus first came over from Sligo. He was just a really shy kid.
“He’s got a bit more banter about him now but he’s not much better. He thinks it is, but it’s not.
“I went and watched him a few times when he went on loan to Blackpool because I live just down the road, and they loved him there too. He’s a brilliant captain and he knows how to get the best out of the players, I love him.”
It seems as though the feeling is mutual. Martin, reveals that Everton’s squad bought him a special farewell gift but while he’s enjoying retirement, the man who quietly but efficiently got on with his job at the club for longer than any player or manager admitted he didn’t relish taking centre stage at Goodison Park when he was asked to walk out ahead of their first game of the season against Fulham. He said: “I had a bit of a heart problem in the summer, that’s why I decided to finish on health reasons. I’ve had a little stent put in and I’m brilliant now.
“I feel great and I’ve been down a couple of times to see the lads. They bought me a Rolex watch that says: ‘Jimmy, once a blue, always a blue, from the players.’
“I was frightened to death of going to the game. I don’t like all that kind of stuff.
“I had to go out on to the pitch but if you watch it, I went about four yards and that was it. I got invited into the boardroom but when I got in there I couldn’t believe it, I was sat next to Reidy (Peter Reid), someone I’d read the riot act with in front of everyone.
“It was a brilliant day though and a great gesture from the club, they’ve looked after me and I’m still doing stuff for them. I’m enjoying my retirement as I’m out doing stuff and I’ve been to my house in Spain and I had a holiday in Cyprus which was a present that my wife Marie bought me for my birthday so I’ve been getting out and about.”
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