A former England schoolboy international who had progressed through Everton’s youth ranks, Steve Seargeant first came into the Everton team as John Hurst’s understudy in the early-1970s.  The blond defender was a fine and aggressive tackler, but there was a sense that he lacked the physical stature to make a sustained challenge for a central defensive berth.

Billy Bingham converted Seargeant to left back following his arrival as manager in 1973, and Seargeant initially flourished. He made 35 appearances during the 1974/75 season as Everton narrowly missed out on the League Championship and started the following campaign as first choice left back. But loss of form saw him cede his place, first to Dave Clements, then Dave Jones. After Bingham was sacked, Seargeant found himself frozen out under Gordon Lee, and left in February 1978 to join Detroit Express. He played out his career on the other side of the Atlantic, linking up with Carlos Alberto Torres in California in 1981.

Sergeant later embarked on a successful youth coaching career in the United States. His son Christian was on Everton’s books under David Moyes, but left without making an appearance, later forging a career with Bangor City, where he played alongside Graeme Sharp’s son, Chris.