Mick Rathbone Rathbone then returned to Preston North End as physiotherapist. He spent six years at the club, during which time they progressed from Division Three (the fourth tier of English football) to the play-off for a place in the Premier League, latterly as part of David Moyes' backroom staff. When Moyes joined Everton as manager in March 2002, Rathbone followed a few months later after the clubs had agreed compensation. He spent nearly eight years at the club, becoming head of sports medicine, a post he left in May 2010 after what the "Liverpool Echo" described as "a tumultuous season of
2001–02 Everton F.C. season 2001–02 Everton F.C. season During the 2001–02 English football season, Everton competed in the FA Premier League. The Everton directors finally lost patience with Walter Smith when they sacked him on 13 March after being knocked out by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter final as well as their poor league form with only one win in 13 league games which saw them slip down the Premiership table and one point above the relegation zone. Preston boss David Moyes was named as his successor, and did a good job of steering Everton clear of the drop zone – though they