The History of Everton Football Club
A Dominant Force in English and European Football in the 1980s
Founded as St Domingo in 1878 to allow the people from the local St Domingo’s Methodist Church parish to play football as an alternative to cricket, the club was renamed Everton Football Club a year later.
Everton, also nicknamed The Toffees of Toffee men, became founder members of the Football League in 1888, winning their first League title in 1891. The club originally played at Stanley Park and then at Anfield, now home of Liverpool, before moving to Goodison Park in 1892.
They continued to grow and develop and won their first FA Cup in 1906, before winning the League title again in 1915.
Everton Enjoy Success Thanks to the Record Goals of Dixie Dean
In 1925, Everton signed in many peoples view, the clubs greatest player of all time, Dixie Dean. The young striker went on to set the record for the most league goals in a single season, 60 goals in 39 league games in 1928 and helped Everton to achieve their third League title that same year.
Two years later though saw Everton relegated to the Second Division for the first time in their history. However, the Toffees won the title and gained promotion back to the top flight of English football at the first attempt. The club then went on to make it back-to-back titles, by securing the 1932 First Division League title in their first year back.
Everton secured their second FA Cup triumph by defeating Manchester City 3-0 in the 1933 final and a fifth League title victory in 1939 rounded off a successful decade.
Following the suspension of football due to the Second World War, Everton had seen their team split up and they faced years of struggle when competition returned in 1946. By 1951, the club faced relegation to the Second Division, eventually gaining promotion back to the top flight by finishing as runners-up to Leicester City in 1954. Everton have remained in the top division ever since.
Everton Enjoy Success in the 1960s Under Harry Catterick
In 1961, Everton appointed Harry Catterick as manager and he led them to further success. The Toffees were crowned League title winners again in 1963 and came from 2-0 down to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in the 1966 FA Cup final. The club also reached the 1968-Cup Final, but lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion.
Everton were again League title winners in 1970, but the success soon dried up and Catterick retired in 1973. None of the managers appointed after him could bring silver ware to Goodison Park and by the late 1970’s and early1980’s, city archrivals Liverpool had become the dominant force in English football.
Howard Kendall Brings Glory to Everton in the 1980s
The club turned to ex player Howard Kendall in 1981, hoping he would make Everton a force once more and they went on to enjoy their most successful era under him. The Toffees won the 1984 FA Cup final beating Watford 2-0 at Wembley, before securing two League titles in 1985 and 1987. They also finished runners-up in the league in 1986 and lost the FA Cup final too, as neighbours Liverpool completed the double.
Everton also tasted success in Europe by winning the 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup final 3-1 against Rapid Vienna. With the club having already secured the League title that year, they were on for a unique treble, but lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Everton missed the chance to compete for more European trophies because of the ban imposed on English clubs preventing them from competing in European competition following the Heysal Stadium disaster.
Following the 1987 League title success, Howard Kendall moved to Athletico Bilbao of Spain, and Everton faced years without any trophy success. The club became founder members of the Premier League in 1992 but had started to struggle and avoided relegation from the Premier League on the last day of the season in 1994.
Another former player, Joe Royle became manager and guided Everton to FA Cup success in 1995, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the final. However, the league form was still of concern with a string of seasons culminating in fights against relegation.
In 2002, David Moyes became manager and in 2005 helped the club to their highest ever finish in the Premier League of fourth place, thus gaining a place in the European Champions League competition.
The 2007 season saw Everton finish in sixth place and in 2008 achieve a fifth place finish, both time qualifying them for the UEFA Cup.
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