Everton FC Heritage Society Social / Talks Evening - The Accidental Footballer; An Evening with Pat Nevin

Everton FC Heritage Society social / talks evenings

We are pleased to announce the second event in our monthly series of social evenings featuring a talk or event related to our club's history, heritage, culture and community. [This new initiative has been introduced by members of the Everton FC Heritage Society, and in a full season will run from September to May on the first Thursday of every month in the function room of The Denbigh Castle, in Hackins Hey (off Dale Street), Liverpool].

Thursday 5 February 2026 - The Accidental Footballer; An Evening with Pat Nevin

Starting at Celtic Boys Club, over a 20-year career, Pat Nevin has played for Clyde, Chelsea, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Kilmarnock and Motherwell. He has won 28 caps for Scotland across a 10-year international career. 

He was chair of the Professional Footballers’ Association and since retiring as a player has worked as chief executive of Motherwell. He is now a football writer and broadcaster for "Radio 5 Live", "BBC World Service", "Chelsea TV", "BBC Sport" online, and Ireland’s "Newstalk Radio". In 2021 he published his first memoir, The Accidental Footballer (Monoray).

With The Accidental Footballer, Pat proved himself to be a brilliant writer with a highly original take on top flight football memoir. He followed this with the highly revealing 'Football and How to Survive It,' a rollercoaster of a book which features an utterly compelling account of how, outside of the Premier League, clubs are hanging by the narrowest of threads.

Pat said of his second volume, “This book is a continuation from The Accidental Footballer, but it is incredibly different as life gets more complicated, football digs it’s claws in deeper, and I am forced to grow up, or at least appear to do so. All the while I try to hang onto the joy of the sport, see the humour in the antics of those surrounding me, and try to survive in the industry and in life, without losing my passion for it. I think I managed, but only just.” 

Pat Nevin signed for Everton after Chelsea were relegated in 1988, and scored 20 goals in 138 appearances for the club. He helped Everton reach the FA Cup final in 1989, scoring the winner against Norwich City in the semi-final.   When Howard Kendall returned as manager in November 1990 however, he and Nevin openly disagreed with each other, which reduced his playing opportunities.  Nevin was unfortunate to arrive at Everton just after one of the finest spells in their history, and in contrast, his four seasons at the club saw a cup runners-up medal in 1989 being the closest he came to silverware, and they never finished higher than sixth in the league. Pat moved 'over the water' to Tranmere Rovers on loan, before making the move permanent in 1992.  He spent an enjoyable 5 year period at Tranmere, making  193 appearances, scoring 30 goals. 

All Evertonians are welcome to attend and we sincerely hope you will support the research of the Everton FC Heritage Society.

Bar available until midnight.

18 + only

Future Events

Our events take place on the first Thursday of the month, so keep your diaries free for  5 March / 2 April / 7 May and a special event (TBA) on 13 June