Blues mourn former manager and Everton legend

By David Watters

Grays Athletic

Grays Athletic's fans and officials are mourning the passing of former manager and Everton legend Andy King.

The former Toffees, Queen's Park Rangers and Luton midfielder, pictured, passed away at home on Wednesday aged 58 after suffering a heart attack.

The Ryman Premier club's late boss managed Waterford in Ireland, Mansfield Town and Swindon before briefly taking the helm at the Blues between November 2006 and January 2007.

He later took over as caretaker manager of Northampton and after suffering a previous heart attack in 2009, had been working as Milton Keynes Dons' current chief scout after spells at Plymouth and Colchester.

In a statement on their official website, the Blues said: "The club are saddened to hear of the passing of former Grays Athletic manager Andy King. Everyone involved with the club would like to send our condolences to Andy's family and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

King, who scored 67 goals in 248 appearances for Everton, was an idol to many fans after his winner in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park in 1978 - the club's first league win over their neighbours since 1971. Famously, he was bundled off the pitch by a policeman as a BBC reporter tried to interview him at the game’s conclusion.

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