History
The record number of season played in English top league belongs to Everton (111). The Toffees haven’t relegated since 1954.
The club was founded in 1878 by St. Domingo’s Church priests and was named after the saint, but a year later it was called Everton after Liverpool district where the church was located.
In 1888 Liverpool side became one of the English Football League co-founders. In 1890/1891 season Everton won their first title and in 1906 triumphed in the national cup.
The Toffees have nine domestic league titles (last won in 1987), five FA Cups (last in 1995), two Football League Cups (last in 1984) and nine FA Community Shields (last in 1995). Only three clubs have more league titles – Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
In 1985 Everton got their only European trophy – Cup Winners’ Cup.
The best striker of the team of all times is legendary William “Dixie” Dean, who netted 60 goals in 1927/1928 season. The record number of appearances for the Toffees belongs to Welsh keeper Neville Southall, who featured for the club from 1981 till 1998. Everton have official list of players, who’ve made strong contribution into development of the team. It includes 25 performers today. They call them “giants”.
Symbols
One of Everton symbols is Prince Rupert’s Tower. In 1938 the present-day emblem of the club was created. In 1997 Everton paid 15,000 pounds for tower reconstruction and in 2014 they installed blue enlightening there.
There are two laurels on Everton emblem and Latin expression “Nil Satis Nisi Optimum” (sky’s the limit), which is a motto of the club.
Everton have several nicknames. One is rather traditional – the Blues. Still “the Toffees” is more wide spread. There are different versions of how this one appeared.
They also call Everton the “national club”. That’s how David Moyes called the club at his first press conference after he took charge of the team.
“Royal blue” is Everton traditional colour since 1901.
Fans
Everton have a lot of fans. The majority of them live in Merseyside or Cheshire. Besides a lot of people support the Toffees in Northern Wales and Ireland. The Blues have admirers all over the world.
Everton most bitter rivals are Liverpool FC. Their face-to-face matches are called Merseyside derby. Other antagonists of the team are Manchester United and Tranmere Rovers FC.
Everton also have fans among celebrities.
The most famous ones are Sir Paul McCartney (pictured), Pete Best and Sylvester Stallone.
Ihor Bondarenko
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