Everton record-breaker became a Netflix villain after Luis Suarez theatrics sparked downfall

“Too much Birkdale and not enough Kirkdale” is oft-repeated phrase trotted out by Evertonians as to why Jack Rodwell did not fulfil his huge potential but while it’s a catchy rhyme that makes a neat sound bite, such glib appraisals of a player’s career cannot come close to telling the full story.

The suggestion of course is that because he hailed from one of Merseyside’s more genteel outer districts rather than the gritty streets a mere Jordan Pickford punt from Goodison Park, Rodwell perhaps lacked the hard edge and character required to thrive in the royal blue jersey. Rodwell’s mother Carol said of her son: “As a child Jack ate, drank and slept football. I think his ambition was always to be a professional.”

The player’s upbringing didn’t prevent him from being Everton’s youngest-ever player in Europe when he made his debut in Alkmaar against AZ on December 20, 2007 aged just 16 years and 284 days though. Or playing for England, or Manchester City paying £12million for his services.

Today is the 15^th anniversary of another landmark moment for Rodwell, his first goal in senior football for Everton on February 15, 2009. The strike, against Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa in the FA Cup fifth round, put David Moyes’ men on their way to a 3-1 victory on a run that would ultimately take them to the final.

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Phil Jagielka questions if Premier League wants to relegate Everton as club await points deduction appeal decision

Having despatched with neighbours Liverpool 1-0 in a replay in the previous round with Dan Gosling netting the greatest Merseyside Derby goal many never saw in the last minute of extra time as ITV accidently cut away early to an