Jimmy Husband, part of Everton’s 1969-70 title-winning squad, dies at 76

The former Everton forward Jimmy Husband, part of the club’s 1969-70 First Division-winning squad, has died at the age of 76.

A statement from Everton said Husband had “died peacefully on Saturday following a short illness”. It added: “The thoughts of everyone associated with the club are with Jimmy’s family at this sad time.” Born in Newcastle, Husband scored 55 goals in 199 appearances for the Merseyside outfit after joining their youth setup in 1963.

In 1965 he won the FA Youth Cup and made his first-team debut, and in 1967-68 he helped Harry Catterick’s side reach the FA Cup final in which his notable miss proved costly with Everton losing 1-0 to West Brom at Wembley. Two seasons later he was a league title winner, although an injury in spring of the campaign denied him the chance to play in the run-in.

Husband moved on in 1973 to Luton, with whom he was promoted from the second tier in 1974 and would play a total of 162 times, scoring 48 goals. The former England Under-23 international subsequently spent time playing in the United States for Memphis Rogues, the Cleveland Force indoor team and Oklahoma City Slickers.