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Roberto Martinez admits that hearing Everton fans sing about the return of the School of Science at Goodison Park this season brings a big smile to his face.

And the Catalan purist insists that “how Everton win” football matches will always be more important to him than the accumulation of points.

Everton fans have quickly embraced Martinez’s possession-based, passing from the back style of play at Goodison.

And some see links with the club’s glorious past.

Banners have celebrated the re-opening of the School of Science and a popular terrace chant has proclaimed the return of the Blues’ once cherished tag.

“We know how to control the ball, we know how to break teams down, we know how to use dynamic play with our counter-attacks, and the words School of Science bring a big smile to everyone’s face,” Martinez told the ECHO this week.

“It’s a sense of pride, and a sense of naturality if you like. We want to win, don’t get me wrong, but how we win is more important.”

Martinez’s words echo the sentiments of legendary Everton boss Harry Catterick, who produced two title-winning teams in the 1960s and 70s – including the 1969/70 champions of the stylish Ball-Harvey-Kendall midfield axis.

Catterick once said: “Let’s have this skilful football. We are trying to produce it. If in producing this highly skilled stuff we win a championship, we will be delighted, but we are not going to run away from skilful football for heavy grounds or anything else.”

His teams, in turn, were a flashback to the great Everton sides of the 20s and 30s led by Dixie Dean.

Famous English goalscorer Steve Bloomer was the man credited with first referring to Everton as a “scientific” football team.

“We owe a great deal to Everton,” he said. “No matter where they play, and no matter whether they are well or badly placed in the table in the league table, they always manage to serve football of the highest scientific order.

“Everton always worship at the shrine of craft and science and never do they forget the standard of play they set out to achieve.”

Martinez admits he has enjoyed studying Everton’s history and reputation for “beautiful football” – and believes his own football philosophies have found a perfect fit at Goodison Park.

“That was a feeling which developed in a quiet place,” he said “watching Everton and being fascinated by Will Cuff stories, watching Howard Kendall’s teams of the 80s. I thought ‘that is me’ as a footballer.

“I’m very much of those beliefs.

“To be able to connect with the fans and to connect with the club in that manner is very important because that reflects on the team.

“And I think that as a team we have shown this season that we are developing into a team that can play in different ways.

“There’s a real sense of something special brewing at the football club and in the dressing room and we need to make sure that next season we get the rewards from this first campaign.”

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