Everton F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Everton F.C.


fullname = Everton Football Club
nickname = The Toffees, The Blues,
The People's Club, The School of Science.
motto = Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
founded = 1878 as St. Domingo F.C.
ground = Goodison Park
Liverpool
England
capacity = 40,569
chairman = flagicon|England Bill Kenwright
manager = flagicon|Scotland David Moyes
league = Premier League
season = 2007–08
position = 5th
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_bluecollar_ser|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=000080|socks2=000080
pattern_la3=|pattern_b3=_thinblacksides|pattern_ra3=
leftarm3=D4FF00|body3=D4FF00|rightarm3=D4FF00|shorts3=000033|socks3=D4FF00
Current season

Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League and have contested more seasons in the top flight of English football than any other. They are one of the top five most successful English clubs in terms of major honours, having won the League Championship nine times, the FA Cup five times and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once. The club's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup. Currently managed by David Moyes, the first team have made significant progress, with three European qualifications and four top eight finishes during his six-year tenure.

Everton were founded in 1878 and have a notable rivalry with Liverpool F.C., known as the Merseyside derby. Liverpool were formed fourteen years later than Everton (in 1892) after a dispute over the rent at Anfield, Everton's old ground; since then Everton have been based at Goodison Park as a result of the split. In 2006, it was announced that the club and Knowsley Council were discussing the construction of a new 55,000 seater stadium in Kirkby. The club has a large fanbase and regularly attract large crowds, averaging over 36,000 (90% of capacity) during the 2005–06 season. [cite web | title=ToffeeWeb - Seasonal Comparisons, 2005–06 | publisher = Toffeeweb | url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/05-06/comparisons.asp |accessdate=2008-01-31]

Numerous well-known footballers have had a career at Everton F.C. Since 2000, the club has annually recognized successful former players as "Giants" of the team. Dixie Dean, who played for the team in the 1920s and 30s, is the most prolific goal-scorer in English football history.

History

Everton were founded as St. Domingo in 1878 so that people from the parish of St. Domingo's Methodist Church could play a sport in non-summer months (cricket was played in summer). A year later, the club was renamed Everton F.C. after the surrounding area, as people outside the parish wished to participate. [cite web | title = I: The Early Days (1878–88) | publisher = Toffeeweb | url = http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/concise/1878-1888.asp | accessdate=2008-01-31] The club was a founding member of the Football League in 1888, and won their first League Championship title in 1890–91. They won the FA Cup in 1905–06 and the League title again in 1914–15, but it was not until 1927 that Everton's first sustained period of success began. In 1925 the club signed Dixie Dean who, in 1927–28, set the record for league goals in a single season (60 goals in 39 league games, a record that still stands to this day), helping Everton to achieve their third league title. [Cite web | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/history/everton-the-begining.html | title = The Everton Story - 1878 to 1930
publisher = Everton F.C.| accessdate = 2007-11-16]

Everton were relegated to the Second Division two years later but won the title and thus promotion at the first attempt. On their return to the top flight in 1931–32, Everton wasted no time in reaffirming their status and won a fourth League title at the first opportunity. They also won their second FA Cup in 1932–33 with a 3–0 win against Manchester City in the final. The era ended in 1938–39 with a fifth League title. The advent of World War II saw the suspension of League football, and when official competition restarted in 1946 the Everton team had been split-up and paled in comparison to the pre-war club. Everton were relegated again in 1950–51 and did not return until 1953–54, when they finished as runners-up in their third season in the Second Division. The club have been a top flight presence ever since. [Cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/the-dixie-years.html| title = The Everton Story - 1931 to 1960| publisher = Everton F.C.| accessdate = 2007-11-16]

Everton's second successful era started when Harry Catterick was made manager in 1961. In 1962–63, his second season in charge, Everton won the League title and in 1966 followed with a 3–2 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday. Everton again reached the final two years later, but this time were unable to overcome West Bromwich Albion at Wembley. A year later in 1969–70, Everton won the First Division, nine points clear of nearest rivals Leeds United. However, the success did not last; the team finished fourteenth, fifteenth, seventeenth and seventh in the following seasons. Catterick retired but his successors failed to win any silverware for the remainder of the 1970s. Though the club mounted title challenges and finished third in 1977–78 and fourth the following season, manager Gordon Lee resigned in 1981, after Everton slid down the table and fell further behind local rivals Liverpool. [Cite web
url = http://www.evertonfc.com/history/the-school-of-science.html| title = The Everton Story - 1961 to 1980| publisher = Everton F.C.| accessdate = 2007-11-16]

Image label|x=0.07|y=0.48|scale=350|text= flagicon|England Image label|x=0.14|y=0.42|scale=350|text=Bracewell Image label|x=0.34|y=0.62|scale=350|text=Sharp

1985 European Cup Winners' Cup Final starting lineup.

Howard Kendall took over as manager and guided Everton to their most successful era. Domestically, Everton won the FA Cup in 1983–84 and two league titles in 1984–85 and 1986–87. They were also runners-up to neighbouring Liverpool in both league and cup competitions in 1985–86 and were again on the losing side to Liverpool in the 1984 League Cup final and the 1988–89 FA Cup final. In Europe, Everton won their first and only trophy in 1984–85, the European Cup Winners' Cup. After first beating afc|University College Dublin, Inter Bratislava and Fortuna Sittard, Everton defeated German giants Bayern Munich 3–1 in the semi-finals, despite trailing at half time (in a match voted the greatest in Goodison Park history) and recorded the same scoreline over Austrian club Rapid Vienna in the final. [cite web | title = Goodison's greatest night | publisher = Everton F.C. | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/history/goodison-s-greatest-night.html | accessdate=2006-08-24] Having also won the league title that season, Everton came very close to winning a treble, but lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

After the Heysel Stadium disaster and the subsequent ban of all English clubs from continental football, Everton lost the chance to compete for more European trophies. A large proportion of the title-winning side was broken up following the ban; Kendall himself moved to Athletic Bilbao after the 1987 title triumph and was succeeded by assistant Colin Harvey. Everton were founder members of the Premier League in 1992, but struggled to find the right manager. Howard Kendall had returned in 1990 but could not repeat his previous success, while his successor, Mike Walker, was statistically the least successful Everton manager to date. When former Everton player Joe Royle took over in 1994 the club's form started to improve; his first game in charge was a 2–0 victory over derby rivals Liverpool. Royle dragged Everton clear of relegation, and also led the club to the FA Cup for the fifth time in its history, defeating Manchester United 1–0 in the final. The cup triumph was also Everton's passport to the Cup Winners' Cup—their first European campaign in the post-Heysel era. Progress under Joe Royle continued in 1995–96 as they climbed to sixth place in the Premiership. Cite web| url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/kendall-s-heroes.html| title = The Everton Story - 1981 to 2006
publisher = Everton F.C.| accessdate = 2007-11-16]

The following season, 1996–97, was not as successful and the club finished in fifteenth place. Royle quit in March. Club captain, Dave Watson, was given the manager's job temporarily and he helped the club to Premiership survival. Howard Kendall was appointed Everton manager for the third time in 1997, but the appointment proved unsuccessful as Everton finished seventeenth in the Premiership; only avoiding relegation due to their superior goal difference over Bolton Wanderers. Former Rangers manager Walter Smith then took over from Kendall in the summer of 1998 but only managed three successive finishes in the bottom half of the table.

The Everton board finally ran out of patience with Smith and he was sacked in March 2002 with Everton in real danger of relegation. [cite news | title = Everton sack boss Walter Smith | publisher = CBBC Newsround | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sport/newsid_1870000/1870925.stm | date = 2002-03-13 | accessdate = 2007-07-21 ] The current manager, David Moyes, was his replacement and delivered Everton to a safe finish in fifteenth place. [cite news | title = Can Moyes revive Everton? | publisher = BBC Sport | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/1868992.stm | date = 2002-03-14 | accessdate = 2007-07-21 ] [cite web | title = Final 2001/2002 English Premier Table | publisher = Soccerbase | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=7&seasonid=131&teamid=942 | accessdate = 2007-07-21 ] After that harrowing season, Everton finished seventh, seventeenth, fourth (their highest ever Premiership finish) and eleventh. It was under his management that Wayne Rooney broke into the first team, before being sold to Manchester United for a club record fee of £23 million. [cite web | title = Rooney deal explained| publisher = BBC Sport | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3616874.stm | accessdate=2006-08-22]

Moyes has broken the club record for highest transfer fee paid on four occasions, signing James Beattie for £6 million in January 2005, [cite web | title = Beattie signs for Everton| publisher = Everton F.C. | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/beattie-signs-exclusive.html | accessdate=2006-08-24] Andy Johnson for £8.6 million in summer 2006, [cite web | title = Johnson signs for Everton| publisher = Everton F.C. | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/johnson-signs-in.html | accessdate=2006-08-24] , Yakubu Aiyegbeni for £11.25 million in summer 2007, [cite web | title = Yakubu signs for Everton| publisher = Everton F.C. | url = http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/blues-sign-yakubu.html | accessdate=2007-08-29 ] and Marouane Fellaini for £15 million in September 2008. [cite web|title=Fellaini Becomes Record Signing|first=Scott| last=McLeod|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/fellaini-becomes-record-signing.html|publisher=www.evertonfc.com
date=2008-09-02|accessdate=2008-09-02]

2006–07 saw Everton finish sixth in the league and attain UEFA Cup qualification. [Cite web | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=942&seasonid=136 | title = Final 2006–07 English Premier Table | publisher = Soccerbase | accessdate = 2007-11-16] In 2007, Everton completed the takeover of the Toxteth Tigers basketball team, with the rebranding of Liverpool's first ever top-flight basketball franchise, the Everton Tigers. [cite news | first=Liz | last=Sullivan | title=Everton FC launches pro basketball club | date=2007-09-13 | publisher=Liverpool Daily Post | url =http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2007/09/13/everton-fc-launches-pro-basketball-club-64375-19783963/ | accessdate = 2008-01-31] 2007-08 saw Everton once again gain European football with a fifth place league finish, although they were eliminated from the UEFA Cup prior to the group stages by Standard Liege.

Colours

Football kit box
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pattern_b = _whitestripes
pattern_ra = _white_stripes
leftarm = 0000ff
body = 0000ff
rightarm = 0000ff
shorts = ffffff
socks = 000000
title = Everton's first home colours

Football kit box
align = right
pattern_la =
pattern_b = _redrightsash
pattern_ra =
leftarm = 000000
body = 000000
rightarm = 000000
shorts = 000000
socks = 000000
title = Everton's second home colours

During the first decades of their history, Everton had several different kit colours. The team originally played in blue and white stripes but as new players arriving at the club wore their old team's shirts during matches, confusion soon ensued. It was decided that the shirts would be dyed black, both to save on expenses and to instil a more professional look. The result, however, appeared morbid so a scarlet sash was added.Cite web | url = http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/concise/1888-1915.asp | title = Everton history - II: Before World War I (1888-1915) | accessdate = 2007-11-16 | publisher = Toffeeweb]

When the club moved to Goodison Park in 1892, they first played in salmon shirts with blue shorts before switching to ruby shirts with blue trim and dark blue shorts. The famous royal blue jerseys with white shorts were first used in the 1901–02 season. Occasionally Everton have played in lighter shades of blue (such as 1930–31 and 1997–98) but these have proved unpopular with fans. Everton's traditional away shirt was amber with either amber or royal blue shorts and various editions appeared throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. Recently however black, white, grey and yellow away shirts have been used. [cite web | title=Everton shirt colours| publisher=Toffeeweb | url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/club/folklore/origins.asp#Toffees | accessdate=2006-08-21]

Greatest ever team

At the start of the 2003–04 season, as part of the club's official celebration of their 125th anniversary, supporters cast votes to determine the greatest ever Everton team. [cite web | title=Greatest Ever Everton team| publisher=Everton F.C. | url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/greatest-ever-everton-team.html| accessdate=2006-08-22 ]

*flagicon|Wales Neville Southall (1981–97)
*flagicon|England Gary Stevens (1982–89)
*flagicon|England Brian Labone (1958–71)
*flagicon|Wales Kevin Ratcliffe (1980–91)
*flagicon|England Ray Wilson (1964–69)
*flagicon|England Trevor Steven (1983–90)
*flagicon|England Alan Ball (1966–71)
*flagicon|England Peter Reid (1982–89)
*flagicon|Ireland Kevin Sheedy (1982–92)
*flagicon|England Dixie Dean (1925–37)
*flagicon|Scotland Graeme Sharp (1980–91)

English Football Hall of Fame members

A number of Everton players have been inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame: [Cite web
url = http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame.htm| title = Hall of Fame - National Football Museum| publisher = National Football Museum| accessdate = 2007-11-16]

*2002 - flagicon|England Dixie Dean, flagicon|England Paul Gascoigne
*2003 - flagicon|England Alan Ball, flagicon|England Tommy Lawton, flagicon|England Gary Lineker
*2005 - flagicon|England Howard Kendall
*2007 - flagicon|England Peter Beardsley, flagicon|Wales Mark Hughes
*2008 - flagicon|England Ray Wilson

Testimonial players

A number of Everton players have received testimonials, normally for playing 10 or more years for the club.

* 1964 flagicon|England Dixie Dean England XI vs. Scottish XI (both sides consisted of players from the 3 Merseyside clubs)
* 1972 flagicon|England Tommy Lawton vs. Great Britain XI
* 1972 flagicon|England Brian Labone vs. Liverpool
* 1974 flagicon|England Brian Harris vs. Newport County
* 1989 flagicon|Wales Kevin Ratcliffe vs. Athletic Club
* 1995 flagicon|Wales Neville Southall vs. Celtic
* 1997 flagicon|England Dave Watson vs. Rangers
* 2000 flagicon|England Joe Parkinson vs. Manchester City
* 2001 flagicon|Scotland Alex Young vs. Espanyol
* 2002 flagicon|England David Unsworth vs. Athletic Club
* 2003 flagicon|England Colin Harvey vs. Bolgona
* 2006 flagicon|England Howard Kendall vs. Athletic Club

Notable managers

The following managers have won at least one significant trophy with Everton:

Honours

*(Old) First Division: 9Up until 1992, the top division of English football was the Football League First Division; since then, it has been the Premier League.]
**1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87

*(Old) First Division Runners-up: 7
**1889-90, 1894-95, 1901-02, 1904-05, 1908-09, 1911-12, 1985-86

*(Old) Second Division: 1
**1930–31

*FA Cup: 5
**1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, 1995

*FA Cup Runners-up: 7
**1893, 1897, 1907, 1968, 1985, 1986, 1989

*Football League Cup Runners-up: 2
**1977, 1984

*Charity Shield: 9
**1928, 1932, 1963, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1986 (shared), 1987, 1995

*European Cup Winners' Cup: 1
**1985

* FA Youth Cup: 3
**1965, 1984, 1998

*World Soccer Magazine World Team of the Year: 1
**1985

Records and statistics

Neville Southall holds the record for the most Everton appearances, having played 751 first-team matches between 1981 and 1997. The late centre half and former captain Brian Labone comes second, having played 534 times. The longest serving player is Goalkeeper Ted Sagar who played for 23 years between 1929 and 1953, both sides of the war, making a total of 495 appearances. The club's top goalscorer, with 383 goals in all competitions, is Dixie Dean; the second-highest goalscorer is Graeme Sharp with 159. Dean still holds the English national record of most goals in a season, with 60.Cite web| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/team_records.sd?teamid=942| title = Everton F.C. records| accessdate = 2007-11-16| publisher = Soccerbase]

The record attendance for an Everton home match is 78,299 against Liverpool on 18 September 1948. Goodison Park, like all football grounds since the recommendations of the Taylor Report were implemented, is now an all-seater and only holds just over 40,000, meaning it is unlikely that this attendance record will ever be broken at Goodison.

Relationships with other clubs

Everton have a link with Republic of Ireland football academy Ballyoulster United based in Celbridge, [Cite web |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/-everton-in-ireland-launched.html
title = 'Everton in Ireland' launched| accessdate = 2007-11-16| publisher = Everton F.C.
date = 24 January 2007] Canada's Ontario Soccer Association, [Cite web
url = http://www.evertonfc.com/club/ontario-soccer-association.html| title = Ontario Soccer Association| publisher = Everton F.C.| accessdate = 2007-11-16] and the Football Association of Thailand where they have a competition called the Chang-Everton cup which local schoolboys compete for. [Cite web| url = http://www.evertonfc.com/assets/downloads/agm/evertonfc-finalreport04.pdf
title = Everton's Annual Report 2004| accessdate = 2007-11-16| publisher = Everton F.C.]

Everton also host annual friendlies with both Bury and Preston North End, the latter because of manager David Moyes previous involvements.

The club also own and operate a professional basketball team, by the name of Everton Tigers, who compete in the elite British Basketball League. The team was launched in the summer of 2007 as part of the clubs' Community programme, and play their home games at the Greenbank Sports Academy. [cite news| title = Everton Tigers to join BBL ranks | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/basketball/6222960.stm | date = 2007-06-20 | accessdate = 2007-06-27 | publisher = BBC ]

Notes

ources

*cite book
author=Ball, D. & Buckland, G.
title=Everton - The Ultimate Book of Stats & Facts.
id=ISBN 1-872568-79-3
publisher=The Bluecoat Press
year=2001
*cite book
author=Corbett, James
title=Everton: School of Science
id=ISBN 0-330-42006-2
publisher=Pan
year=2004
*cite book
author=Tallentire, Becky
title=The Little Book of Everton
id=ISBN 1-84442-652-1
publisher=Carlton Books Ltd
year=2004

References

External links

* [http://www.evertonfc.com Official site]
* [http://www.efpf.co.uk Everton Former Players' Foundation]
* [http://www.premierleague.com/everton.html Everton FC - Premierleague.com]
* [http://www.fanbase.inuk.com/everton_football_links.html List of Everton links including unofficial websites]
* [http://www.followeverton.com Independent site]
* [http://www.feedtheyak.com Unofficial Site]