Bill Kenwright: The Lifelong Evertonian Who Chased the Dream

Bill Kenwright, a name synonymous with Everton Football Club, has left us at the age of 78. His journey from the raucous ‘Boys’ Pen’ at Goodison Park to the hallowed halls of the boardroom as the club’s chairman and owner is a true sporting love story, albeit one with an ending that left many fans disheartened.

Kenwright’s unwavering passion for Everton was evident throughout his life. He breathed, lived, and bled blue. But his tenure as chairman would be marked by challenges, both on and off the pitch. The club faced footballing and financial crises under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri, and Kenwright, despite his undying love, presided over these trying times.

Critics, including some Everton faithful, have raised their voices, but one thing remains undeniable: Everton was Bill Kenwright’s great love. He yearned for the club to regain its rightful place among the Premier League’s elite.

Bill Kenwright was no stranger to storytelling, having made a name for himself as a successful West End impresario. He knew the power of a good tale with a touch of romance. Yet, his dream of crafting the perfect storyline for Everton, one that would end with the club’s first trophy since the 1995 FA Cup triumph, remained unfulfilled.

In a poignant open letter to fans last season, Kenwright and his fellow board members expressed their frustration at being unable to attend games at Goodison Park due to security concerns. It was a clear sign of how divisive his chairmanship had become among supporters.

‘The Romantic Evertonian,’ as he was fondly dubbed by close friend Sir Philip Green, embarked on his Everton journey on the handlebars of his uncle’s bicycle. He found inspiration in Everton’s daring striker Dave Hickson, who kindled the flames of ambition within him.

Even during his heartthrob days in the 1960s as Coronation Street’s Gordon Clegg, Kenwright could often be spotted in the directors’ box, relishing his connection to the club. His dream came true when he was invited to join Everton’s board in 1989.

Kenwright’s initial attempt to buy Everton in 1993 gave way to Peter Johnson, a move he believed would benefit the club in the long run. Johnson oversaw Everton’s FA Cup victory in 1995, the last piece of silverware in the club’s cabinet. However, as chaos descended upon Johnson’s reign, Kenwright seized the moment on Christmas Eve 1999, securing a majority share of 68%.

He brought back Sir Philip Carter, the steward of Everton’s glory years in the mid-1980s, as chairman and formed a close partnership with manager Walter Smith. However, financial challenges persisted in the post-Johnson era as they embarked on the arduous task of rebuilding.

Bill Kenwright, with his theatrical background, was never short of colorful quotes. I recall an interview I conducted with him for the BBC following Nick Barmby’s controversial move from Everton to Liverpool. Kenwright, personally hurt by Barmby’s decision, famously said, “He had used six of the worst words in the English language as far as Everton fans are concerned. He has said: ‘I want to play for Liverpool.'”

I distinctly remember Kenwright’s subsequent call, worried that he had been overly emotional in his choice of words. However, he quickly conceded that it was exactly what betrayed Everton supporters would be saying themselves.

Kenwright was always a passionate defender of his beliefs, even sending me a lengthy and heated letter after I wrote a piece for the Liverpool Echo advocating for young defender Michael Ball to receive a contract comparable to that of veteran striker Kevin Campbell. Our cordial relationship never fully recovered.

In March 2002, Kenwright made the difficult decision to part ways with Walter Smith, paving the way for the David Moyes era. This partnership lasted 11 years, with Everton even reaching the Champions League qualifying stage in 2005, despite losing a teenage Wayne Rooney to Manchester United.

David Moyes, ever grateful for Kenwright’s support during his tenure, was a manager who reciprocated Kenwright’s loyalty. Their bond was undeniable.

But Kenwright’s chairmanship was marked by challenges beyond the football pitch. Fans often accused him of failing to secure the financial backing needed to compete with the club’s rivals. Kenwright vehemently insisted that he searched “24/7” for a billionaire benefactor but couldn’t find the right fit.

It was only when he brought Farhad Moshiri on board that Evertonians hoped for a change in fortunes. However, despite substantial investments, the club’s on-field performance faltered. Efforts to move Everton from Goodison Park faced setbacks until the recent construction of Bramley Moore Dock.

Despite the turmoil of Moshiri’s reign, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of Everton’s new home on the banks of the Mersey. Moshiri’s purchase of a 49.9% stake in 2016 was expected to usher in an era of prosperity, but the club instead saw instability and managerial changes.

Bill Kenwright’s emotional speech at the Hillsborough Memorial Service in 2013, standing in front of The Kop, was a testament to his character. He famously said, “They picked on the wrong city – and they picked on the wrong mums.” It was a moment of unity and strength for the city of Liverpool.

Kenwright’s dream of reuniting with David Moyes never came to fruition. The closest they came was when Moyes nearly returned as Everton’s manager, only for Carlo Ancelotti to become available, prompting Moshiri’s pursuit of the “Hollywood” manager.

In the final years of his tenure, Kenwright couldn’t even witness Sean Dyche’s management firsthand, as he and the board decided not to attend matches at Goodison Park.

Bill Kenwright faced health issues, and a cancerous tumor was removed from his liver. He worked tirelessly alongside Moshiri to facilitate a proposed takeover by American investment fund 777 Partners. It would have been his dearest wish to see Everton stabilize, both in terms of his health and the club’s situation, allowing him to return to his beloved Goodison Park. Sadly, it was not meant to be.

Bill Kenwright’s legacy at Everton is a story of unwavering passion, love, and dedication to the club he adored. His journey from the ‘Boys’ Pen’ to the boardroom was a testament to the dreams that drive us all, even when the ending isn’t quite what we hoped for. Evertonians will forever remember the man who wore his heart on his sleeve for the club he cherished.

Bill Kenwright may have left us, but his love for Everton will echo through the ages, a reminder that true devotion knows no bounds, even when the path is strewn with challenges.

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• BBC Sport – Bill Kenwright obituary: Everton chairman’s ‘sporting love story with an unhappy ending’
• Liverpool Echo – Bill Kenwright and the managers: From Moyes to Ancelotti
• BBC Sport – Bill Kenwright’s emotional speech at the Hillsborough Memorial Service
• Everton Football Club – Club Statement: Bill Kenwright
• The Guardian – Bill Kenwright, Everton chairman and impresario, dies aged 78