Frank D’Arcy dead at 77: Ex-Everton footballer dies as club pays tribute to title-winning defender
FORMER Everton footballer Frank D’Arcy has passed away aged 77.
The Premier League club paid tribute to their tough-tackling defender, who was a boyhood supporter, on social media.
The post read: “Everyone at Everton Football Club is deeply saddened at the passing of our title-winning defender Frank D’Arcy, who passed away on Saturday, aged 77.”
His cause of death is currently unknown.
Frank made 18 appearances during a five-year career with the Blues.
He most notably appearing five times in the famous Championship-winning season of 1969/70, never once finishing on the losing side.
However, it was only when Football League rules were altered recently that Frank qualified for a medal.
He was thrilled to receive it from 1986/87 title-winner and Club Ambassador Ian Snodin at home last year.
D’Arcy was also a member of the team that famously won the Club’s first FA Youth Cup in 1964/65 alongside the likes of John Hurst and Jimmy Husband.
Everton beat Arsenal in the two-legged final, 29,908 packing into Goodison Park for the second leg.
A tough-tackling left-back, Frank made his Senior Team debut at Elland Road against Leeds United the following season when Harry Catterick played a much-changed team a week prior to an FA Cup semi-final.
Frank made two further starts in the 1970/71 season.
His last appearance came as a substitute at Wolves in April 1971 before enjoying a brief spell with Tranmere Rovers, then moving into non-league football with Kirkby Town.
Frank remained a passionate Everton fan throughout his life and could often be seen in the crowd at Goodison until recent years.
It comes after another former Everton legend Kevin Campbell died aged 54 after a short illness.
Emotional tributes are pouring in for the ex-striker, who spent a memorable two decades on the pitch and later became a pundit.
Wayne Rooney said: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about Kev – thinking of all his family and friends.
“Kev was a great team mate but more importantly a brilliant person who helped me a lot in my earlier years.”
Campbell began his career at Arsenal and broke into the first team in 1988.
Campbell made 213 appearances for Arsenal between 1988 and 1995, scoring 59 goals in all competitions.
After stints in Nottingham and Turkey he made 137 appearances for Everton where he scored another 39 goals and played with a young Wayne Rooney.
Campbell played for the Toffees between 1999 and 2005 before finishing off his career with a year at West Brom and then Cardiff City.
He called time on his career in May 2007 after the Baggies released him following their relegation from the Premier League.
In a two-decade career, Campbell scored 149 goals and made 521 professional appearances.