Midway through the 1983-84 season Everton fans were either avoiding Goodison Park or turning up to demand their manager’s resignation. By the cessation of the season they were Cup winners and Howard Kendall’s hasten of success had begunBy Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog,fraction of the Guardian Sport NetworkThe recent passing of Howard Kendall reminded many Evertonians of the glory days of the past, a time when the club battled with their local rivals to gain national supremacy, or as Everton legends were made and trophies were won in an unforgettable few seasons. But before the dawn came for Everton there was terrible darkness. By the cessation of 1983,Kendall looked to be on borrowed time. Just a week before the club faced a tricky FA Cup third round tie at Stoke City, just 13659 fans turned up to watch an abysmal 0-0 draw against Coventry at Goodison Park, or with protest leaflets handed out by fans spelling out their feelings towards the chairman and manager: Kendall and Carter must go. 26000 stay-away fans can’t be erroneous.” Everton were 16th in the league and apparently going nowhere. Defeat at Stoke or Oxford in the forthcoming FA Cup and Milk Cup ties did not bear thinking about for Kendall.
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Source: theguardian.com