As we all know, there is a long list of football players who have played in the non-league and went on to play at the top level of the beautiful game. However, very few players who started in non-league football can go on to claim to be the best in the world during the prime of their career.
However, one of those players is former Everton and Wales goalkeeping legend Neville Southall.
Started at a low level
At 15, he joined Llandudno Town from Llandudno Swifts, where he had been offered the chance to join Fortuna Dusseldorf at the age of 14 when the club did a tour of Germany. However, Southall was reluctant to move away from home at such a young age.
During his time with Llandudno Town, the Welshman worked as a binman, a hod carrier and a waiter. His displays at Llandudno attracted interest from Northern Premier League outfit Bangor City, where he became a semi-professional, earning just £10 per week.
With Bangor struggling financially, Southall had to take a wage cut to £3 to join Conwy United. In 1979, the then-20-year-old goalkeeper joined Cheshire County League outfit Winsford Town. Southall helped Winsford win the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1980 and was rewarded with the club’s Player of the Year award.
His performances for Winsford Town alerted clubs higher in the football pyramid, with both Wigan Athletic and Bury showing interest. It was the latter who stumped up an initial £6,000 to acquire Southall’s services.
Although the north west outfit had an underwhelming season, the Fourth Division side reached the FA Cup third round while also recording a prestigious victory over Newcastle United in the League Cup.
On an individual basis, Southall enjoyed another strong campaign in between the sticks, keeping 15 clean sheets in his 44 outings. His displays were enough to earn the young Welshman the clubs Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
A move that would define his career
In 1981, Southall was once again on the move. The £150,000 switch to Merseyside giants Everton would be the most important of his career.
When he arrived at the club, the Toffees already had three first-team goalkeepers: Jim McDonagh, Jim Arnold and Martin Hodge. However, having made his debut in October in a 2-1 win over Ipswich Town, he really nailed down a regular starting spot in December.
He kept a clean sheet in a game against Aston Villa and remained as the first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of season 1981/82.
Southall impressed Everton boss Howard Kendall, who claimed after the league’s top goalkeepers Ray Clemence, Peter Shilton and Joe Corrigan that Southall was the best of the rest in the First Division.
The following season wasn’t as fruitful for Southall, as he experienced an ulcerated toe that had a big effect on his performances. He also experienced the most significant low of his career, as he was in goal for the Toffees as they suffered a humiliating 5-0 home defeat against Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Southall was dropped from the starting line-up. Even worse was to follow as Kendall sent the goalkeeper out on loan to Fourth Division Port Vale, where he made nine appearances in January and February.
The club from the Potteries wanted to sign Southall on a permanent basis. However, Toffees boss, Kendall, was unwilling to allow him to leave permanently, and he ended up playing the final four games of the season after Jim Arnold picked up an injury.
A glorious period for Everton and Southall
Southall started the 1983/84 season as second choice behind Arnold. However, by October, Southall was back in favour.
The Toffees enjoyed a less-than-impressive First Division campaign, although Kendall’s team impressed in the domestic cups, reaching the final of both the FA and League Cup.
They drew 0-0 with Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the League Cup final before suffering a 1-0 defeat in the replay, courtesy of a Graeme Souness goal.
However, the Toffees emerged triumphant in the FA Cup final, beating Graham Taylor’s team 2-0 in the final at Wembley. The win turned out to be a catalyst for future success.
They won the following season’s Charity Shield by defeating Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley. When Everton lost their opening two league games of the season, there was no sign of what was to come.
The Toffees then suffered just three more defeats in the English Division in their next 37 games, going on to claim the English top-flight title for the first time since 1970.
Everton experienced some impressive results in the campaign, beating reigning champions Liverpool home and away, as well as hammering supposed title challengers Manchester United 5-0 at Goodison Park.
Southall played a crucial role in a 2-1 win at another title challenger, Tottenham Hotspur, as he produced a fantastic save from Spurs forward Mark Falco’s header. The result cemented Everton’s position at the top of the table.
Things got even better for Southall and his team as the Toffees won the European Cup Winners’ Cup. The Welshman was superb, as the team conceded just one goal in their eight games in the competition.
The men from Merseyside also suffered a 1-0 extra-time defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Southall’s performances were enough to see him awarded the FWA Footballer of the Year. He became only the fourth goalkeeper ever to win the award and also just the second Welshman to claim the honour.
Some would say that for the next few seasons, he could legitimately have a claim to be the best goalkeeper in the world.
The following season, Everton finished second in the table behind rivals Liverpool. Southall missed the last ten First Division matches of the season through injury. The Toffees also lost the FA and League Cup finals against perennial nemesis Liverpool.
However, Everton claimed their second title with Southall in between the sticks in season 1986/87. Unfortunately for Everton and Southall, the team then experienced a slump as the title-winning teams broke up.
The Toffees never recovered from the break-up. The Welsh goalkeeper became frustrated by the club’s lack of action at arresting the worrying slide and even put in a transfer request in season 1990/91. However, he stayed with the Toffees until season 1997/98.
In the 1995 FA Cup final, he rolled back the years, making a series of saves to help the Toffees defeat Manchester United 1-0. This is the Toffees’ last trophy.
A fantastic career from humble beginnings
From where he started his career, Neville Southall’s achievements in the beautiful game were fantastic. He became one of the best players in his position, and those who watched him still talk about his brilliant displays.
Neville Southall was the best goalkeeper in the world at one time pic.twitter.com/VvKA0hcnGe
— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) May 29, 2023
Arguably, few, if any, non-league players have gone on to achieve as many feats as the Welshman, who is a legend to Everton and Wales fans.