One of the most iconic nights in Everton’s proud history was relived as Hill Dickinson Stadium hosted a special event on Wednesday, honouring the unforgettable victory over Bayern Munich in the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final.
The event, staged in partnership with Global Timing Partner and Stadium Founding Partner Christopher Ward, took place in Dock on One.
It was presented by Christopher Ward, where heroes of that famous night reunited to celebrate the famous Goodison Park clash that saw Howard Kendall’s Blues recover from a goal down to overcome European giants Bayern Munich 3-1, en route to winning a first European trophy.
The occasion was graced by a significant number of the players who starred for Everton in the mid-1980s.
In attendance were Neville Southall, Pat van den Hauwe, Kevin Ratcliffe, Derek Mountfield, Peter Reid, Graham Sharp, Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy, Kevin Richardson, Alan Harper, Adrian Heath, Trevor Steven and John Bailey.
These Everton Giants were also joined by Lily Kendall, the widow of the legendary manager Howard Kendall, further marking the deep historical significance of the evening.
Commemorative Timepieces and Design Tributes
In recognition of their achievements, each player was presented with a special limited-edition Christopher Ward timepiece – The Goodison 3.1 – created specifically to commemorate that famous night.
The watch, co-designed by Christopher Ward CEO and Co-Founder Mike France, features several subtle design details, including the match date (24/04/1985) and the final scoreline.
The date window highlights, in amber, the shirt numbers of Everton’s goalscorers, Graeme Sharp, Andy Gray and Trevor Steven, while the times of the goals (48, 73 and 86 minutes) are marked on the bezel.
The reverse of the timepiece is engraved with an aerial view of Goodison Park, alongside
Howard Kendall’s iconic rallying call: “The Gwladys Street will suck the ball into the net.”
This attention to detail serves as a permanent tribute to a match often cited as the greatest ever witnessed at the Grand Old Lady.
The event also saw participation from media figures of the era, including legendary commentator Martin Tyler, who covered the globally televised match, and fellow commentator Clive Tyldesley, who generously gifted several of his original commentary charts from the Radio City broadcast to the event.
Reflections on Goodison Park’s Greatest Night
The significance of the reunion was echoed by those who helped facilitate the tribute.
Lifetime Evertonian Mike France, who attended the 1985 semi-final alongside his brother Jon, said:
“A huge thank you to everyone who attended this special event.
“Celebrating arguably Goodison’s greatest night with the Goodison 3.1 watch and bringing the 1985 team together has been incredibly special, not just for us at Christopher Ward, but for everyone who understands what that night in 1985 meant.”
France further highlighted the emotional weight of the gathering, stating:
“To have so many of the players who made history join us, alongside fans who lived it, brings that moment back to life in a powerful way.”
The evening served not only as a commercial partnership but as a profound moment of reflection for the club and its supporters, bridging the gap between the modern stadium environment and the peak of the club’s domestic and European success in the 1980s.
