The sad news that Everton legend Dave Hickson has passed away has been confirmed in the last hour by those close to him after a stay in hospital over the last few weeks.

Hickson was a true Evertonian, famously being quoted as saying he “would have broken every bone in my body for any other club, but I’d die for Everton,” and he spent much of his life connected to the club in one form or another after his retirement, taking fans on tours of his beloved Goodison Park before being taken ill there in 2011.

As a player he was renowned as being able to play through the pain barrier and almost literally run through brick walls. Nicknamed the Cannonball Kid, Hickson is one of only a handful of players to have played for all three clubs in Merseyside at professional level, but it was Everton who stole his heart.

His most famous appearance in an Everton shirt was perhaps the FA Cup 5th round game in 1953 where he earned his stripes as a football hardman. Infront of nearly 78,000 who packed into Goodison Park he was forced to leave the pitch with blood streaming from his eyebrow after “connecting” with a defender’s boot. He returned to the pitch, though, dabbing the wound with a hanky shortly before it opened up again after he went in for a header. He then went on to score the only goal as Everton beat Manchester United in a famous victory.

Most of us will have fond memories of meeting Dave through his attendance at various Everton fans’ functions over the years, and he was always ready with a tale to tell and his quick wit and contagious smile never left him.

He was fittingly awarded the Citizen of Honour award by the City of Liverpool in 2011 for his work not only in football but with various charity organisations that he championed.

Everyone at NSNO sends our thoughts and prayers to those close to Dave who will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of ever meeting him. Rest in Peace.