Champagne time at Everton

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 76

Champagne time at Everton

NZPA-Reuter London Everton’s 15-year wait to reclaim the English soccer championship ended amid emotional scenes yesterday when it clinched the title at home by beating Queen's Park Rangers 2-0. Although Everton has been wearing the mantle of "champion-elect” for the last two months, they could only begin their celebrations when Graeme Sharp assured it of three points by

scoring the second goal against Rangers seven minutes from time.

Everton's twenty-seventh match without defeat put it safely beyond the reach of Liverpool, the only club which could catch it, on 84 points, and it can now concentrate on the Football Association (FA) and European Cup Winners’ cup finals later this month.

While Rangers joined the celebrations by applauding

the Everton players and fans alike, the ugly side of football was seen in the second division game between Notts County and Manchester City. Over 10,000 city fans made the trip to Nottingham in the hope of seeing their favourites clinch promotion to the first division against relegation haunted County. But County had obviously not read the script and

raced into a 3-0 first-half lead, at which point a section of Manchester supporters stormed the security fence behind the visiting goal.

Mounted police had to clear the pitch and the second half started 28 minutes late after both managers appealed to the fans to calm down.

County faded badly after the interval but held on to emerge the 3-2 winner.