Although he joined the club towards the end of his career and became a fan favourite, Everton had missed out on signing Nigel Martyn much earlier. As Everton legend Neville Southall was coming to the end of his superb Goodison Park career, the Blues were in desperate need of a long-term replacement. The Toffees identified Crystal Palace keeper Nigel Martyn as that man, having a bid accepted for him. Martyn travelled up north to speak to the club, but manager Joe Royle wasnt there waiting and neither was chairman Peter Johnson. He soon got bored and travelled to Leeds United, the other party interested in his services at the time, where he immediately signed a contract with the Yorkshire club. He would enjoy seven very successful years at Elland Road, playing a part in victories over Barcelona, Lazio and Deportivo La Caruña in their Champions League campaign where they were eventually eliminated in the last four. Such were his performances for the club he was later named as their greatest ever goalkeeper and had the Blues secured his services back in 1996, they would have had one of the best keepers to have ever played in the Premier League. Instead they were left to suffer through years of substandard goalkeepers such as Steve Simonsen, Paul Gerrard and Thomas Myhre, with Richard Wright later joining that calamitous club. Martyn eventually signed for Everton in 2003 and helped the club reach the Champions League qualifying stage that year with David Moyes later labelling him as his best ever signing.
