History of Everton F.C.
Founder of the Football League and first to 100 top-flight seasons.
Everton Football Club is a professional football team based in Liverpool, England, that plays in the English Premier League. The club originated from a Methodist New Connexion congregation at St. Domingo Chapel in the Everton district, initially formed as St. Domingo FC in 1878 before being renamed Everton in 1879. Everton were founder members of the Football League in 1888 and have since won the league title 9 times, the FA Cup 5 times, and the Cup Winners' Cup once. They were the first club to play over 100 seasons in the top division of English football, achieving this in the 2002–03 season.
- Founded
- 1878 (as St. Domingo FC); renamed Everton in 1879
- Ground
- Goodison Park (since 1892); previously Anfield (1884–1892)
- League titles
- 9
- Fa cup wins
- 5
- Cup winners' cup
- 1
- Top division seasons
- 124th in 2026–27
- Record league goals in a season
- 60 by Dixie Dean (1927–28)
Lore & Background
The club's roots lie with St. Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel, opened in 1871 on the corner of Breckfield Road North and St. Domingo Vale. In 1877, minister Ben Swift Chambers created a cricket team, and in 1878 a football club called St. Domingo's F.C. was formed, winning its first match 1–0 against Everton Church Club. As many non-chapel members joined, the name was changed to Everton Football Club in November 1879 at a meeting in the Queen's Head Hotel. The club first played at Anfield on an open pitch in Stanley Park, then moved to Priory Road in 1882, and to Anfield in 1884. After winning their first league title in 1890–91, a bitter dispute with president John Houlding led Everton to abandon Anfield and move to Goodison Park in 1892, issuing 5,000 shares. Houlding then formed Liverpool F.C. at Anfield.
Reader's Guide
Everton's significance lies in their role as a founder member of the Football League in 1888 and their pioneering status as the first club to play over 100 seasons in the English top division, a milestone reached in 2002–03. Their early history illustrates the transition from amateur church-based teams to professional, commercially viable clubs, including the construction of a 20,000-capacity ground at Anfield within seven years. The club's move to Goodison Park after a dispute with John Houlding directly led to the creation of Liverpool F.C., shaping the football landscape of Merseyside. On the field, Dixie Dean's record of 60 league goals in 1927–28 remains unmatched in English top-flight football. Everton have won nine league titles and five FA Cups, and their 1890–91 title was secured by a 2-point margin after a tense finish. The club's crest features Everton Lock-Up, known locally as Prince Rupert's Tower, reflecting the district's heritage.
Did You Know?
- Everton were originally called St. Domingo FC, named after the chapel where the congregation met.
- The club's first match under the name Everton FC was a 6–0 win against St. Peters in 1879.
- Dixie Dean scored 60 league goals in the 1927–28 season, a record that still stands.
More in Club History
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