Match Of My Life Everton Defender Alan Stubbs share his Football memories with Steve Hothersall

Alan Stubbs’ free transfer move from Celtic in July 2001 was a dream come true for a lifelong Evertonian. He had overcome testicular cancer at Celtic and took over from Richard Gough at Everton, partnering David Weir at the back in his first season, as the Club drifted towards the sacking of Walter Smith.

Stubbs was a rock at the heart of the defence, strong, committed, good in the air and a leader on the pitch helping Everton to Champions League qualification in 2005. Surprisingly Stubbs rejected a new contract at the end of that season and departed for Sunderland, but he returned to the club in January 2006 after just six months on Wearside. He settled back into the Everton side, again helping them to European qualification during 2006/07.

The arrival of Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott pushed him down the pecking order and he left for Derby County in January 2008. But Stubbs was to return once againas the under 21’s coach, working under both David Moyes and Roberto Martinez before departing to become manager of Hibernian in the summer of 2014.