Everton FC

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The club's origins trace back to the congregation of St Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel in Breckfield Road North, where members played cricket in summer before forming St. Domingo's FC in 1878. Renamed Everton in November 1879 to attract a wider audience, the team quickly established itself as a competitive force. A defining moment in their lore occurred during the 1890–91 season when Fred Geary scored in each of the first six matches and finished as top scorer with 21 goals, guiding the club to its first League Championship by a two-point margin over Preston North End. Later, Dixie Dean set an unbreakable record in 1927–28 by scoring 60 league goals in 39 games, leading Everton to their third title before a temporary relegation in 1930.

In Their Own Story

The mid-1980s marked the club's most sustained period of success under manager Howard Kendall. In 1984–85, Everton won the League Championship and the European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Rapid Vienna 1–0 in the final after a dramatic 3–1 semi-final victory over Bayern Munich. Despite trailing at half-time against the Germans, the team rallied to secure a spot in continental history as the only English club to win that specific trophy. Although they lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United that same year, preventing a treble, the following season saw them recapture the League title in 1986–87. This golden era ended when the Heysel Stadium disaster led to a ban on English clubs from continental competition, breaking up much of the title-winning squad.

Reader's Guide

For fans seeking historical context, key turning points include the move from Anfield to Goodison Park in 1892 and the promotion back to the top flight in 1953–54 after a brief relegation. The club's most recent major trophy remains the 1995 FA Cup, secured under Joe Royle, who also led them clear of relegation just two years prior. Ownership has shifted significantly over time; Farhad Moshiri purchased a 49.9% stake in 2016 before American billionaire Dan Friedkin acquired the club in December 2024. Supporters are known as Evertonians, Toffees, or Blues and maintain a fierce rivalry with Liverpool FC in the Merseyside derby. The team's traditional kit consists of royal blue shirts with white shorts and socks.

Did You Know?

• Everton was founded as St. Domingo's FC in 1878 so that members of a local Methodist congregation could play sport year-round.
• Dixie Dean scored 60 league goals in the 1927–28 season, a record for top-flight league goals in a single season that still stands.
• Everton is the only club to be a founding member of both the Football League (1888) and the Premier League (1992).
• The club's most recent major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup, won by defeating Manchester United 1–0.
• American billionaire Dan Friedkin purchased the club in December 2024, following Farhad Moshiri's 2016 acquisition of a 49.9% share.