On Sunday 12th September 1993, Leasowe Pacific, who were adopted by Everton two years later, played their first ever top-flight match. They faced Wembley in the WFA National League Premier Division at their home ground, the Cuemasters Ground in Moreton.
Leasowe Pacific earned their place in the top flight after winning the WFA National League Northern Division by 4 points, earning 33 points in 18 games – 16 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat – and scoring 101 goals. The chief markswomen were Louise Thomas and Gayle Formston: Thomas scored 36 goals (51 in all competitions) and Formston scored 30 goals (42 in all competitions).
Leasowe Pacific’s promotion was sealed in unorthodox circumstances. The 1992/93 season had to end on 30th May, however due to postponements, Leasowe Pacific still had two games to play – home and away meetings against bottom-placed club Milton Keynes. Both games were played at Milton Keynes and lasted 60 minutes. Despite having to play two games in one day, they claimed back-to-back 11-0 victories – a goal every 5 and a half minutes!
Wembley were also making their debut in the top flight after winning the WFA National League Southern Division as District Line Ladies. They became Wembley during the summer following an amalgamation of District Line Ladies and youth team Pinner Park Girls and moved from Acton to Vale Park, the home of Wembley’s men’s team.
Unsurprisingly, reports on the match were very brief. The first half ended goalless, mainly thanks to Leasowe Pacific goalkeeper Gill Parkinson. Parkinson saved a barrage of shots, namely from Wendy Grant, Yvonne Baldeo and Justine Lorton. Lorton eventually broke the deadlock in the second half but then Leasowe Pacific scored their first ever top-flight goal, appropriately courtesy of the previous season’s top scorer Louise Thomas. With a little help from the inside of the post, Thomas slotted the ball past Jacky Eimermann from a tight angle to level the score. Neither team could find a winner, and Leasowe Pacific’s first ever top-flight match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Line-up: Gill Parkinson, Paula Oldham, Julie Griffiths, Michelle Berry, Mo Mallon, Nicky Gallagher, Vanessa O’Brien, Lisa Collins, Gayle Formston (Becky Easton), Louise Thomas, Andrea McGrady (Kathy Bell)
Thanks to Gayle Formston-Wright for providing match details from her spell at Leasowe Pacific from 1992 to 1994.
Everton’s opening day defeat to Chelsea was their first opening day defeat since they lost 1-0 to QPR in 2011.
Lucas Digne’s own goal for Everton against Aston Villa in August 2022 made him only the second player to score an own goal for and against Everton (after Don Hutchison).
Digne’s own goal was also the first time Everton’s first league goal of the season was an own goal since 1999/2000 (Jaap Stam).
Jordan Pickford’s assist for Demarai Gray’s equaliser against Nottingham Forest in August 2022 made Pickford only the fourth Everton goalkeeper to assist a goal in the Premier League (after Richard Wright, Tim Howard and Joel Robles).
Conor Coady was Everton’s starting captain in their 1-0 win over West Ham in September 2022, becoming the club’s first ever player to be starting captain while on loan.
In Everton’s 2-1 win over Southampton in October 2022, there were only 5 minutes between Everton conceding to fall behind and taking the lead – their quickest turnaround since against Blackburn in November 1962 (3 minutes).
Dwight McNeil’s goal against Crystal Palace in October 2022 was the first goal scored by an Everton substitute since Gylfi Sigurdsson against Liverpool in February 2021.
Everton had 3 different English goalscorers in their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in October 2022 (Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil) – only the third time this has happened in a Premier League game since the turn of the millennium (after Tottenham in August 2007 and Burnley in September 2021).
In Everton’s 4-1 defeat to Brighton in January 2023, they conceded 3 goals within 6 minutes. Since WWII, only against Bolton in December 2005 have they conceded 3 goals in a shorter time in a home game (5 minutes).
Everton’s 4-1 defeat to Brighton was their first game of 2023. They lost their first game of a calendar year in each of the last 6 years, and 5 of those games were at Goodison Park.
Conor Coady’s own goal against Manchester United in January 2023 made him the first Everton player to score an own goal in the FA Cup since Pat Van Den Hauwe against Blackburn in January 1986.
Conor Coady scored a goal and an own goal against Manchester United in January 2023 – he was the first Everton player to score a goal and an own goal in the same game since Leon Osman against Arsenal in January 2010.
Frank Lampard earned just 0.92 points per game as Everton manager (35 points in 38 league games). Adjusted to 3 points for a win and excluding caretaker managers, only Mike Walker has a lower points-per-game ratio in the club’s history (0.87).
Everton’s first goal under former Burnley manager Sean Dyche was scored by former Burnley defender James Tarkowski and assisted by former Burnley winger Dwight McNeil.
The goal was also Tarkowski’s first goal assisted by McNeil in what was the 156th game they played together.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Arsenal in February 2023 was the first time they beat the league leaders while starting the day in the relegation zone since New Year’s Day 1927 (3-2 vs Burnley).
In Everton’s 1-0 win over Leeds in February 2023, the only goal was scored by Seamus Coleman. The win extends Everton’s record of never losing in games where Coleman has scored (28 games, 22 wins, 6 draws) [excluding penalty shootouts].
Everton’s 1-0 win over Brentford in March 2023 was the first time the Blues won 1-0 after scoring their only goal in the first minute since against Norwich in May 1987.
Ellis Simms wore the number 50 shirt when he scored his first Everton goal in the Blues’ 2-2 draw against Chelsea in March 2023, making him the highest-numbered player to score a goal for Everton.
Ellis Simms’ equaliser against Chelsea in March 2023 was the first time an Everton substitute scored an equaliser in a Premier League game since Theo Walcott against Aston Villa in July 2020.
Lucas Moura’s red card in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham in April 2023 was the first time an opposition player was sent off in an Everton game since West Brom’s Kieran Gibbs in September 2020, ending a run of 118 consecutive games in all competitions without an opposition player getting sent off.
Michael Keane’s equaliser in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham in April 2023 was the first time Everton scored a goal in the 90th minute after being a goal down and having a player sent off since against Birmingham in August 2002.
Everton’s 3-1 defeat to Fulham in April 2023 ended their run of 14 consecutive home wins on Grand National weekend.
Jordan Pickford’s penalty save against Leicester in May 2023 ended a run of 11 successfully converted penalties against Everton.
Pickford’s penalty save was also the first penalty he saved for Everton since against Newcastle in March 2019.
Everton’s 5-1 win over Brighton in May 2023 was the first time two Everton players scored at least 2 goals in away game (Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil) since against Luton in May 1983 (Graeme Sharp and Kevin Sheedy).
Yerry Mina’s equaliser in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Wolves in May 2023 was Everton’s latest ever goal in normal time (98:54).
James Tarkowski was the only outfield player to play every minute of the 2022/23 Premier League. He was also the first Everton outfield player to play every minute of a Premier League season since Leighton Baines in 2012/13.
James Tarkowski blocked 78 shots in the 2022/23 Premier League – at least 36 more than any other player.
James Tarkowski made 196 clearances in the 2022/23 Premier League – only Ethan Pinnock (214) made more.
James Tarkowski won 120 aerial duels in the 2022/23 Premier League – only Ben Mee (132) won more.
Idrissa Gueye made 97 successful tackles in the 2022/23 Premier League – only Joao Palhinha (147) and Moises Caicedo (100) made more.
Idrissa Gueye made 56 interceptions in the 2022/23 Premier League – only Declan Rice (63) made more.
Everton earned 0.95 points per game in the 2022/23 Premier League – their worst ever league campaign on a points-per-game basis (adjusted to 3 points for a win).
Everton won 8 league games in the 2022/23 season – the fewest in a single season in their history.
Everton earned just 21 points at home in 2022/23 season – the fewest in a single season in their history (adjusted to 3 points for a win).
Everton lost 10 home league games in the 2022/23 season – the most in a single season in their history.
Everton won 6 home league games in the 2022/23 season – only in 1957/58 (5) have they won fewer.
Everton scored only 16 home league goals in the 2022/23 season – the fewest in the Premier League and also the fewest in a single season in their history.
Everton scored more away league goals (18) than home league goals (16) in the 2022/23 season – only the third time this has happened in the club’s history (after 1983/84 and 1992/93).
Everton failed to do a league double over an opponent for the second consecutive season. This is the first time in their history that they failed to do a league double in back-to-back seasons.
Everton spent the entire 2022/23 Premier League season in the bottom half of the table – the first time this has happened since 1997/98.
Only two seasons prior to this, they spent the entire league campaign in the top half.
Everton scored 34 goals in the 2022/23 Premier League – only Wolves (31) scored fewer.
Everton conceded 10 goals from counter attacks in the 2022/23 Premier League – at least 2 more than any other team.
Everton are one of only 2 teams who did not score an own goal in the 2022/23 Premier League (with Nottingham Forest).
Everton earned 3 points from losing positions from goals scored in the 89th minute or later in the 2022/23 Premier League (Ellis Simms vs Chelsea, Michael Keane vs Tottenham and Yerry Mina vs Wolves). They ultimately avoided relegation by 2 points.
Everton beat Brighton by a 4-goal margin away from home and lost to Brighton by a 3-goal margin at Goodison Park in the 2022/23 Premier League. This is only the second occasion in club’s history where they won by 4 goals away from home and lost by 3 goals at home against the same opponent in a single league season (after Arsenal in 1908/09 – a 4-0 win at the Manor Ground and then a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park within the space of 5 days in September 1908).
Premier League Top Threes (Total)
Games – Iwobi/Tarkowski (38), Pickford (37)
Starts – Iwobi/Tarkowski (38), Pickford (37)
Sub appearances – Maupay (16), Davies (15), Garner/Simms (9)
Subbed off – Gueye (18), Onana (13), Calvert-Lewin/Coleman/Gray (11)
On 22nd August 1960, England was chosen as the host of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, beating West Germany in the final round of voting, and on 1st May 1963, Goodison Park was selected as one of the stadiums. At the group stages, Goodison hosted three matches – all of them involving reigning World Cup winners Brazil:
12 July – Brazil v Bulgaria
15 July – Hungary v Brazil
19 July – Portugal v Brazil
Since it was announced that Brazil would be playing all their group stage matches at Goodison Park, fans were calling in at a special World Cup booking office at a remarkable speed hoping to watch their Brazilian heroes, including the likes of Garrincha, Jairzinho and the greatest footballer in the world, Pelé.
There was an overwhelming demand for tickets for the World Cup matches at Goodison Park. The complete stock of application forms for tickets (around 3,000) was sent out on the first day. More application forms were eventually sent out but because of a high number of applications and requests, the switchboard at Goodison Park was continuously jammed. Brazilian fans played a part too – around 8,000 tickets were sold to them in the first couple of days of sale. Applications went into tens of thousands in the first few days but despite the early chaos, a combined total of over 150,000 fans attended the group stage matches at Goodison Park.
Prior to the 1966 World Cup, Brazil won the previous two editions in Sweden and Chile. 17-year-old Pelé exploded onto the scene in the 1958 World Cup. He scored 6 goals – all of them in the knockout stages: the winner against Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-finals and 2 goals against hosts Sweden in the final. Because of injury, Pelé played only 2 matches in the 1962 World Cup. He scored in Brazil’s opening match against Mexico but was injured in a goalless draw against Czechoslovakia at the Estadio Sausalito – the home of Everton’s Chilean counterparts, Everton de Vina del Mar.
Over 47,000 fans watched Brazil take on Bulgaria at Goodison Park in their first match of the 1966 World Cup. After 15 minutes, Pelé was fouled just outside the box by Spartak Sofia defender Dobromir Zhechev and he struck the ball low and hard past the wall and into the back of the net, just about beating goalkeeper Georgi Naydenov. His goal made him the first ever player to score in three consecutive World Cups. Brazil ended up winning 2-0 with Garrincha, like Pelé, scoring directly from a free-kick.
Pelé may have scored only one goal but he did more than that in the win over Bulgaria – 3 shots (including 2 on target) and he even became a supplier, creating 3 chances. He also had 8 successful dribbles and was fouled 7 times. He helped his teammates defensively as well, making 8 successful tackles and 2 interceptions.
Following the match, Liverpool Echo’s Michael Charters spoke very highly of Pelé’s performance:
Pelé’s artistry was there for all to see. For long periods, he was out of the game but he moves like lightning when the crucial moment arrives. His chipped passes with either foot, his deft and deadly passing through a wall of defenders opened the way for Alcindo and others. It was not his fault that Brazil did not have half a dozen.
The ideal start for Brazil and Pelé. But unfortunately, that would be only game they left Goodison Park with a smile on their faces.
Pelé suffered a knee injury against Bulgaria due to aggressive tackling from the opposition and was forced to miss Brazil’s second match of the tournament against Hungary. Brazil lost 3-1 – their first World Cup defeat since a 4-2 defeat to the same opposition in their ill-tempered quarter-final clash in 1954. The Liverpool Echo said Pelé’s absence “loses so much of its power and drive” and the Daily Telegraph said Brazil’s attack “lacked genius”.
Pelé returned to training ahead of Brazil’s crucial clash against Portugal, who had won both of their games in the competition. Although, he was stopping goals instead of scoring them; he was in goal during practice while he and Brazilian fans were hoping he would be fit. Brazil needed to beat Portugal by at least three goals to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.
Pelé was named in the line-up, much to the relief of Brazilians everywhere. But seeing as he had just overcome an injury, it made him an easy target for the Portuguese opposition. Over 58,000 fans were at Goodison Park to watch Pelé’s comeback – the highest attendance for a non-Wembley match at the 1966 World Cup. Brazil had a terrible start, losing 2-0 after nearly half an hour through goals by Antonio Simoes and Eusebio. Their fate at the 1966 World Cup was all but sealed at the half-hour mark when Pelé was a victim of a vicious tackle by Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Morais, who had only made his international debut the previous month. Referee George McCabe controversially only gave Morais a telling-off instead of a sending-off. The tackle rendered Pelé ineffective and, because there were no substitutes at the time, he played the rest of the game limping on the wing.
Brazil halved the deficit thanks to a goal by Rildo but Eusebio scored another in the 85th minute. Brazil’s World Cup campaign was officially over the next day after Hungary beat Bulgaria 3-1, despite a slight glimmer of hope for the Brazilians after Georgi Asparuhov gave Bulgaria the lead.
The defeat to Portugal was Pelé’s only World Cup loss. His World Cup record was 14 appearances, 12 wins, 1 draw (the goalless draw against Czechoslovakia) and 1 defeat. The 1966 World Cup might not have been a tournament Pelé looked back on fondly, but at least Goodison Park had the honour of having one of the greatest and most popular sporting figures in history play on its hallowed turf.
During the First World War, female factory workers started to form football teams to raise money for charity; the most famous one being Dick, Kerr Ladies. Women’s football quickly became very popular with match attendances often reaching five figures and remained popular after the war ended. Some matches were staged at Football League grounds, including Goodison Park.
Everton allowed women’s football teams to train at Goodison Park to prepare for their games:
It was resolved that all persons other than our own players, (and the lady football players) be precluded from using the ground and dressing rooms for any purpose whatever. That the lady footballers be informed that they must arrange that they withdraw from our premises before 4:30 p.m. and that whilst training or practising they must use the visitors dressing room and that no male will be permitted to accompany them.
Everton’s minute books – January 1918
Aintree Munitions Ladies v North Haymarket Ladies
In an Everton meeting on 30th January 1918, the club allowed Goodison Park to stage a women’s football match on Easter Monday morning (April 1st). A women’s team from munitions factories in Aintree and North Haymarket played against each other in front of over 7,000 spectators at Goodison Park to raise money for the Sportsmen’s Ambulance Fund. They played against each other the previous January at Prenton Park with Aintree winning 4-0. In a match report by the Liverpool Echo, both teams “entered the arena attired in short skirts, Aintree having red sleeves, and Haymarket dark green.”
North Haymarket: Blacklock, Nellie Woods, Mabel Wilson, Harrison, Ivy Fulford, R. Rose, Way, C. Murray, Amy Bragg, May Sale, Kitty Molyneux
Aintree started the more dominant side but the first half ended goalless. The red-sleeved ladies eventually broke the deadlock in the second half through Williamson. Despite Aintree’s dominance, Haymarket had a chance to equalise but “the ladies forgot to charge, but shoved, pulled and pushed each other until the goalkeeper cleared.” Lily Molyneux doubled Aintree’s lead and a goalkeeping error made it 3-0. Reece hit a shot which slipped through Blacklock’s hands and went into the goal. Lily Molyneux had a chance to double her tally and make it 4-0 from the penalty spot but Blacklock made amends for her earlier error and saved the penalty. Aintree did make it 4-0 with Reece scoring her second of the game. The match ended 4-0 to Aintree, repeating the scoreline of the Prenton Park meeting.
This is the first known record of a women’s football match being played at Goodison Park.
The Liverpool Echo praised the match and women’s footballers in general:
Ladies are good at promising, men are always agreed, but in among the war-growths that have occurred recently, nothing promises quite so richly as the lady footballer. Time was when they tried to play the winter sport and were laughed to scorn. Many fans must have gone to Goodison Park on Monday morning for a pantomimical affair, and they had their eyes opened. There were laughable incidents, of course, but some of the players showed such good form that the possibilities of ladies’ football had to be recognised.
The cardinal fault was pushing instead of charging; but this is quite a minor matter, and time will remedy it more emphatically than a referee can. Aintree’s left-winger and all the full backs showed a keen perception of the game and its requirements, and I doubt not that if the playing area had been reduced to the size that obtains when school teams meet, the ladies would have done far better. It is too much to expect the weaker sex to last 90 minutes’ football on the full scale of football’s measurements. Whatever else the ladies have done, they have, in linking up with football, found a channel for charity that has fared well, and promises to bring with it some football in the future.
Aintree Munitions Ladies v Rest of the League
Just over a month later (May 8th), Aintree returned to Goodison Park to play against a Rest of the League XI in front of just over 1,500 spectators. Although, there does not appear to be any report of the match or record of the scoreline.
Dick, Kerr Ladies v St Helens Ladies
On Boxing Day morning 1920 (December 27th), England’s most famous women’s football team at the time Dick, Kerr Ladies played against St Helens Ladies at Goodison Park in what became one of the most famous matches in women’s football history. The date of the match has often been mistaken. In 1920, Boxing Day was on December 27th, not December 26th, because the 26th was on a Sunday and Boxing Day traditionally had to be on a working day. Furthermore, Sunday football was forbidden in England until the 1970s.
Everton had allowed Dick, Kerr Ladies to play at Goodison Park in January 1919 and a match was requested to be played on February 5th the same year. Although, Everton said the date was not suitable. A date was eventually agreed and Dick, Kerr and St Helens played against each other at Goodison Park to raise funds for the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers.
Dick, Kerr Ladies in 1920St Helens Ladies in 1920
Dick, Kerr: Annie Hastie, Alice Kell, Lily Parr, Alice Woods, Jessie Walmsley, Sally Hulme, Florrie Haslam, Jennie Harris, Alice Mills, Lily Lee, Daisy Clayton
St Helens: Edith Waine, M. Makin, F. Gee, E. Britch, M. Ransome, Swift, Davies, N. Johnson, Scott, E. Woods, F. Hayes
Florrie Redford was in Dick, Kerr’s original line-up but she unfortunately missed her train to Liverpool. Minnie Lyons was also in the original line-up but missed the game for unknown reasons. Alice Mills and Lily Lee took their places. St Helens had a couple of late replacements themselves – Swift and Davies replacing Gornall and Bayley.
The match was kicked off by Ella Retford, a well-known music hall comedian, singer and dancer in the early 20th century, at 11 o’clock in the morning. Dick, Kerr wore black and white jerseys and St Helens were wearing blue. Jennie Harris broke the deadlock and Dick, Kerr went into half-time with a one-goal lead. In the second half, Alice Kell moved from right back to centre forward and scored a hat-trick. No more goals were scored and the match ended 4-0 to Dick, Kerr. According to the Liverpool Daily Post, the scoreline could have been a lot worse for St Helens if it was not for Edith Waine.
The attendance of the match has commonly been reported to be at least 53,000 with over 10,000 people being turned away because the stadium was too full. The day after the game, the Liverpool Echo reported the match was attended by around 45,000 spectators. According to Everton’s gate receipt books, the official attendance was 46,480 – far more than the other match at Goodison Park later that day, Everton Reserves vs Southport (just over 5,000), and more than the estimated attendance for Liverpool vs Chelsea at Anfield the same day (around 35,000 according to the Liverpool Echo). The official attendance was a record for a women’s football match in England until the 2012 Summer Olympics and remained a record attendance for a women’s club football match in England for over a century until 49,094 fans attended the 2022 Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
Following the match, both teams’ managers were full of gratitude. The Liverpool Echo reported:
Yesterday, Mr Frankland, of Dick, Kerr’s and Mr Gordon, of St Helens ladies’ football sides, having asked me to accept their thanks for, they said, “being mainly responsible for the excellent attendance at the ladies’ game.” To thank: also the Everton club’s officers and staff – and the ladies. They agreed and asked me to say to you all, “A big, big thanks for breaking the record.”
Both teams were lauded for their performances. The Liverpool Daily Post said referee Stan Peers “had no trouble with the ladies, who were not argumentative and played a hefty, fair game, and played to the whistle with a readiness that might be copied by the menfolk,” and the Liverpool Echo said:
The ladies at Goodison Park gave us all much pleasure. We appreciated their skill, their stamina, their determination, and their manner of taking hard knocks without “turning a hair.” Sometimes the cap didn’t fit, and there was a hair turned; still one must say that they all played well and hard throughout. One lady on the right wing of St Helens loved to dribble; she lived for it. But she did not succeed in the manner little Jennie Harris did – what a splendid little player. And what full-backs Dick, Kerr have; they study their kicks, and are the back-bone of the side.
The Dick, Kerr-St Helens spectacle was the last women’s football match at Goodison Park before the FA banned women’s football being played on FA-affiliated grounds in 1921 – a ban which lasted until the 1970s. The next major women’s football match to take place at Goodison Park was on 5th April 1997 when Everton Ladies played against Wembley Ladies in the Women’s Premier League. Everton lost 3-1 with Louise Thomas becoming the first female Everton player to score at Goodison.
Women’s football is becoming more and more popular with some WSL matches being staged at Premier League grounds. 5,998 fans watched Everton Women against Manchester City Women at Goodison Park in September 2021, which is a record attendance for Everton Women. Following England’s victorious Women’s Euro 2022 campaign, it is going to become even more popular. When Everton Women play at Goodison Park again, it is very possible that the ground will be full of women’s football fanatics again.
Everton’s 3-1 win over Southampton in August was the first time they won by at least 2 goals on the opening day of the season since 1996.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in each of Everton’s first 3 league games this season. He also did so the previous season, becoming the first Everton player to score in the first 3 league games of the season in back-to-back seasons since Dixie Dean in 1933/34 and 1934/35.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s assists in Everton’s 3-1 win over Burnley in September were in the 65th and 66th minute – only the second time an Everton player provided 2 assists in a minute in a Premier League game (after Magaye Gueye against Sunderland in April 2012).
Everton’s penalty shootout defeat to QPR in the League Cup in September was their 5th loss in penalty shootouts against lower league opposition (won only once).
The penalty shootout defeat to QPR also extended Everton’s record of losing every single penalty shootout that went to sudden death (4 defeats out of 4).
Everton’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham in October was their 500th home league defeat in their history.
The defeat to West Ham was also the first time they lost successive home games against West Ham since March 1930.
Josh King’s hat-trick in Everton’s 5-2 defeat to Watford in October made him the first player to score a hat-trick against Everton at Goodison Park since Bradley Allen for QPR in November 1993.
This was also only the third time a player scored a hat-trick against Everton having previously played for the Blues (after Harry Hammond for Sheffield United in February 1895 and Tommy Browell for Manchester City in September 1925).
Everton lost 10 home league games in 2021 – their joint-most ever in a calendar year (with 1929, 1958 and 1993).
Everton’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in December meant they beat the Gunners in 3 consecutive meetings – the first time they did so since April 1986.
Demarai Gray’s winning goal in Everton’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in December was the first time Everton scored a winning goal in the 90th minute after falling behind at half-time since against Fulham in April 2010. The player who scored the winning goal for Everton against Fulham was Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s goal in Everton’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea in December was his first right-foot shot in his senior league career.
Everton had 3 consecutive games postponed in December. Excluding the first lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was the first time Everton had 3 consecutive games postponed since the Big Freeze of 1963.
Everton did not play a competitive match between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this season. Since the inaugural Football League season and excluding seasons scrapped due to war, this was only the third time this had happened in the club’s history (after 1892/93 and 1962/63).
Everton’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton in January was their first ever home defeat to Brighton.
Everton lost their first game of 2022 – they lost their first game of a calendar year in each of the last 5 years, and 4 of those games were at Goodison Park.
Everton’s match against Aston Villa in January was the first match at Goodison Park where the Blues were managed by a former Everton club captain (Duncan Ferguson) and their opponents were managed by a former Liverpool club captain (Steven Gerrard) since Everton v Liverpool in September 1993 (Howard Kendall and Graeme Souness).
Salomon Rondon’s hat-trick for Venezuela against Bolivia in January made him the first Everton player to score a hat-trick in an official international match since Gary Lineker against Poland in the 1986 World Cup.
Frank Lampard lost his first league game as Everton manager in the Blues’ 3-1 defeat to Newcastle in February. He was the first permanent Everton manager to lose his first league game in charge since Gordon Lee in 1977.
Everton lost each of their first 4 league games of 2022 – only the third time they lost each of their first 4 league games of a calendar year (after 1977 and 1997).
Everton’s FA Cup match against National League side Boreham Wood in March was the first time they played a match against non-league opposition in the fifth round of the FA Cup since against Telford in 1985.
Vitalii Mykolenko captained Everton in their 2-0 win over Boreham Wood in March, becoming the youngest non-English captain in the club’s history and 8th youngest ever captain overall.
Jordan Pickford conceded 5 goals on his birthday in Everton’s 5-0 defeat to Tottenham in March. He was the first Everton goalkeeper to concede 5 goals in a competitive match on his birthday.
Alex Iwobi’s 99th-minute winning goal against Newcastle in March was Everton’s latest ever goal in normal time.
Iwobi’s goal against Newcastle was also scored on St. Patrick’s Day. As well as Ireland, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Nigeria, Iwobi’s homeland.
Everton’s 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in March was their biggest FA Cup defeat since they lost 4-0 to Liverpool in January 1955.
Everton had a player sent off in 3 consecutive league games (Jonjoe Kenny against Wolves, Allan against Newcastle and Michael Keane against West Ham) – the first time this had happened in the club’s history.
David Moyes’ West Ham did the league double over Everton this season. This was only the third time a former Everton manager did the league double over the Blues since they left the club (after Cliff Britton with Preston in 1958/59 and Johnny Carey with Nottingham Forest in 1966/67).
Mike Dean awarded Everton 2 penalties against Burnley in April – they were the only penalties he awarded Everton in his entire refereeing career.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in April extended their run to 14 consecutive home wins on Grand National weekend.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on May 1st was their first ever home win on that date in what was their 6th attempt.
Everton’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in May was the first time they beat the reigning European champions since they did the league double over Liverpool in 1984/85.
Richarlison’s goal from Cesar Azpilicueta’s error against Chelsea in May was the only time Everton benefitted from an error directly leading to a goal in the Premier League this season.
Everton scored 2 non-penalty goals against Leicester in May – this was the only away game this season where they scored 2 non-penalty goals.
Everton beat the reigning European champions (Chelsea) and FA Cup winners (Leicester) this season – the first time they did so in the league since 1982/83 (5-0 vs European champions Aston Villa and 3-1 vs FA Cup winners Tottenham). Coincidentally, both wins in both seasons were back-to-back.
Everton’s 0-0 draw against Watford in May was the first ever goalless draw between the two sides in what was their 33rd meeting.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s red card against Brentford in May made him the first teenager to be sent off for Everton since Wayne Rooney against Birmingham in December 2002.
Branthwaite’s red card against Brentford in the 18th minute was the earliest an Everton player was sent off since Tony Hibbert against Sigma Olomouc in August 2009 (6th minute), and the earliest in a league game since Iain Turner against Blackburn in February 2006 (9th minute).
Everton had 2 players sent off against Brentford in May (Jarrad Branthwaite and Salomon Rondon) – the first time this had happened since against Liverpool in October 2007 (Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville).
Everton’s 3-2 defeat to Brentford in May was only the second game in the club’s history where they had a player sent off in both halves. The only other game was against Barnsley in the FA Cup in January 1915 (George Harrison in the first half, Bobby Parker in the second half).
Everton’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in May was the first time they came from 2+ goals down at half-time to win a league game since against Derby in April 1977.
Everton’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in May was their 1,878th win in the top flight.
Everton failed to do a league double over a team this season – the first time they failed to do so since 1997/98.
Everton have lost 21 Premier League games this season – the most since 1993/94 (22).
Everton received 6 red cards in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
An opposition player was not sent off in any Everton game this season – the first time this had happened since 1990/91.
Everton conceded 66 league goals this season – the most since 1975/76 (also 66).
On a goals-per-game basis, they conceded 1.74 goals per league game this season – the highest since 1959/60 (1.86).
Everton’s goal difference this season was -23 – their worst goal difference since 1950/51 (-38).
Everton’s average possession in the Premier League this season was 39.1% – the joint-lowest in the league (with Burnley).
Everton’s pass accuracy in the Premier League this season was 73.3% – only Burnley (69.2%) and Watford (72.9%) had a worse pass accuracy.
Everton scored 5 own goals in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
Everton had 10 errors directly leading to goal in the Premier League this season – more than any other team.
Everton had 49 big chances in the Premier League this season – only Norwich (37) had fewer.
Everton conceded 22 goals from set piece situations in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties) – more than any other team.
Michael Keane scored 2 own goals in the Premier League this season – he was one of only 2 players to score more than one own goal (with Jamaal Lascelles).
2 first-half substitutes scored in the first half for Everton this season – Yerry Mina against Brentford in February and Donny van de Beek against Arsenal in May. Prior to this season, no first-half substitute scored in the first half for Everton since Steven Naismith against Chelsea in September 2015.
Everton came from behind at half-time to win a Premier League game 3 times this season. Before this season, the last time they came from behind at half-time to win a league game was against West Brom in September 2015.
Premier League Top Threes (Total)
Games – Pickford/Gordon (35), Gray (34)
Starts – Pickford (35), Keane (31), Coleman (30)
Sub appearances – Rondon (12), Gordon/Alli (10)
Subbed off – Gray (19), Gordon (11), Richarlison/Iwobi/Allan (7)
On 18th December 1971, Alan Ball played in Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Derby at the Baseball Ground. Little did he know that when the full-time whistle was blown, he had played his last game for Everton. Just four days later, he left the Blues to join Arsenal for a fee of £220,000 – a British record fee at the time. Evertonians were devastated, and so was Ball.
Three days after the defeat to Derby, Alan Ball went to Bellefield for training. The Everton players were given an early break from training in the morning, and Ball was brought in to the office by club physiotherapist Norman Borrowdale for a meeting with Harry Catterick. Catterick told him that Everton were going to sell him to Arsenal and their manager Bertie Mee was waiting in another room to speak to him, which took him by surprise.
In Ball’s book Playing Extra Time, he said to Catterick:
Why? I don’t want to go. Why are you selling me? I am your captain. I am twenty-seven [sic] years of age. I am playing for England. I am playing for England. I am playing well and you want to sell me. I just can’t understand that.
Catterick’s responded:
It’s business, son. I am doubling my money. I’ve had you for six years. I am making a profit on you and I have had an awful lot out of you. Football’s business, son.
Everton chairman George Watts said the move started when Bertie Mee contacted Catterick to make an offer for him.
The Ball move started on Monday [20th December] when Arsenal manager Bertie Mee got in touch with Mr Catterick to make a firm offer. We called a quick board meeting and the directors agreed to allow Mr Catterick to handle the business as he thought fit. He has our full backing in this decision.
Ball was reluctant to talk to Mee, saying he was happy playing for Everton and he did not need any disruption so soon after the birth of his daughter Keely. Ball wished to talk to his father, Preston manager Alan Ball Sr. Catterick gave him the phone and Ball rang him, telling him that Everton accepted a bid from Arsenal for him. His father said there was no bigger club than Arsenal after they won the league and FA Cup double the previous season and told Ball Jr to head home as soon as he could. He eventually spoke to Bertie Mee and agreed to go to London for further discussions.
When Ball went home, his father tried to get him to move to a club in the north west instead. He rang Manchester United and Manchester City immediately, explaining to both of their managers that Arsenal were interested in signing Ball and Ball did not want to move to London. Manchester United manager Frank O’Farrell said he had little interest in signing him because David Sadler was doing a good job in midfield. Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison, however, was really interested and said he would talk to the board about making an offer. Manchester United then had second thoughts and had arranged someone to be at Euston Station to show that they were interested.
Alan Ball and his father left Manchester and arrived at Watford Junction – the last stop before Euston Station. When they stopped at Watford, Arsenal’s assistant secretary Ken Friar was on the platform looking for them. Arsenal had heard about Manchester United’s interest and the club had hoped to catch them before they go to Euston. Friar told Ball and his father to leave the train and he would drive them to Highbury. They discussed with Friar and Bertie Mee what moving to Arsenal could mean for Ball, talking about finances, bonuses, accommodation and more. Ball said in Playing Extra Time that he would receive a basic wage of about £250 per week – much more than he was on at Everton. Ball Sr left discussions to phone Malcolm Allison and told him about Arsenal’s offer. Allison said Manchester City could not compete with their offer. Terms were agreed and Alan Ball became an Arsenal player, receiving 10% of the transfer fee.
An hour after he sealed his move to Arsenal, Alan Ball spoke to the Liverpool Echo, upset at the fact he was no longer an Everton player.
I feel very sad. It’s not just a question of changing the colour of your shirt. It goes a lot deeper than that. I have just left a great club. Everything about it was great and I have spent some of the happiest years of my life there.
I was shocked when I was told that Mr Mee was waiting for me and that I could go to Arsenal. It is not for me to argue why. But I am going to miss that Everton crowd. I don’t think I would ever have asked to leave Everton but when you are faced with a situation like this, you have no alternative. I shall play my heart out for Arsenal just as I always did for Everton. I am not bitter about it – just a trifle sad.
Ball, talking to the Daily Mirror, also said the way he left Everton had shattered his faith in the club.
On Tuesday [21st December], I was down – about as low as you can get. Shaken by the shock news that my beloved Everton were ready to sell me and stunned by the follow-up punch that the boss, Harry Catterick, delivered – it was Arsenal or the axe.
Mr Catterick told me that he was going to leave me out of the side – even before Arsenal came in for me. All right, I’d had a stinker at Derby last Saturday. I’m not making excuses but there was a fairly human and understandable reason. Last Friday, my wife, Lesley, gave birth to our second daughter and that night, I didn’t sleep. I’d hoped the boss might understand. He didn’t, and that was it.
It wasn’t just my pride that had been hurt. My faith in the club, to whom I had given everything for five years, had been suddenly shattered. How could I be worth over £200,000 to Arsenal and not worth a first-team place to Everton? The only conclusion I could come to was that Harry Catterick must have thought I was going over the hill. Burned out at the ripe old age of twenty-six? Well, everyone’s entitled to an opinion.
Although, he was going to really miss Everton fans and he would always respect them.
It’s hard to imagine that I’m about to leave Merseyside. It’s hard, too, to think of those wonderful, wonderful Everton fans of mine as mere memories. I’ll give them a big welcome to Highbury if they come down for my home debut on January 1 against… wait for it… Everton.
Alan Ball Sr said they went down to Watford initially to not sign the deal, although not mentioning because he tried to get Ball Jr a move to one of the Manchester clubs, but the offer was too good to turn down.
We came down ready not to sign. He is a Northern boy and didn’t want, and didn’t need, to sign. But it was an offer he could not possibly refuse. This offer coupled with the one that took him to Everton five and a half years ago has gone a long way to securing his future.
Bertie Mee had been pursuing Ball for a long while and admitted to contacting Everton every so often asking if he was available.
Some time ago, I asked Everton to let me know if he ever became available. Since then, I suppose I called them once every third or fourth month. I rang them again on Monday. And it appears I called at just the moment they were prepared to sell. It really was a case of being in the right place at the right time.
Harry Catterick said the decision to sell him was not an easy decision to make but was done at the club’s best interests.
I expect to be criticised over Ball’s transfer. No manager parts with a top class player without criticism but – as is the case in every transfer negotiation – only the Everton directors and myself can be aware of all the facts.
We believed it was in the best interests of the club and player that we should part. I want to make it clear that contrary to reports the only we received for Ball was from Arsenal. He is still a very fine player – don’t forget, I bought him so I know all about his qualities. Some people said, when I bought him from Blackpool, that I had paid too much for him, but I have always thought very highly of him.
I am sure he will continue to do well and I am very sorry to see him go. The decision to let him go was not an easy one, believe me.
The day after his transfer, Alan Ball returned to Goodison Park. He despondently spoke about his return to the ground to the Daily Mirror, including saying his goodbyes to his former teammates, Harry Catterick, and the club groundsman.
People tell me I should be feeling the happiest, most contented footballer in Britain after saying, “Goodbye Goodison, hello Highbury.” A few might also be thinking that, apart from being the most expensive player in the country, I am also the luckiest. Well, let me tell you this. Yesterday [23rd December], Alan Ball wasn’t the happy-go-lucky fella you might imagine. He was sad. So sad that when he picked up those easy-to-find white boots and turned his back on the Everton dressing room for the last time, a lump the size of a football came into his throat.
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t any second thoughts about joining Arsenal. They’re great and, if it’s in my power, I’ll try with all I’ve got to make them even greater. I’ll be out there training with them for the first time at Highbury this morning, feeling exactly the way I did on the day I joined Everton more than five years ago… jubilant, impatient to get on with the exciting challenge ahead. But that goodbye to Goodison really turned me over. It wasn’t easy. In a way, it was hell.
I’d always had it in my mind that when I left Everton, they would have to push me out in a wheelchair. That was until Tuesday, when everything changed and Harry Catterick, the boss, told me he had accepted Arsenal’s record offer. The rest you probably know – except about how flat I felt when the parting of the ways became a reality after I’d trained for the last time with my old teammates at Everton’s training centre yesterday.
There were a few laughs at first from the lads. Like “Where’ve you put the Rolls, Alan?”, “Are you going to commute by helicopter?” and “Rockefeller’s on the phone.” All good humorous stuff, typical of a great bunch of lads, and it helped to keep my chin up when I was feeling a bit down. So did the couple of goals I banged in during a five-a-side finale which my lot won 6-2. As I told them at the time, I’ll be happy to complete that little scoring flurry as hat-trick on New Year’s Day when, by one of fate’s strange quirks, Everton provide the opposition for my Highbury debut.
When I said goodbye to Harry Catterick, there was a bit of a strained atmosphere at each other, and both of us seemed as though we didn’t really know what to say. So we decided on a bit of small talk. And, of course, the handshake.
The real heartbreak I managed to hold over until I had left my teammates tucking into the club’s Christmas dinner and had nipped down to Goodison to pick up my playing boots and to say my cheerios to the staff. It was when I walked out over that famous and familiar Goodison pitch to shake hands with our groundsman, Sid McGuinness, that I felt it most of all.
Sid was trying to hold back the tears and so was I. All right, I know I’m wide open for the “crying all the way to the bank” punch. But only the real pro can truly appreciate how it gets you when you’re leaving a great club – even though it means going to another.
22nd December 1971 was a heartbreaking day for Evertonians and Alan Ball, but even though Ball left on fairly acrimonious terms, he still loved the club and the fans, and the club and the fans still love him.
Everton’s win over Tottenham in September was their first win over Spurs since December 2012, and the first time they did so away from home since November 2008.
Joao Virginia made his Everton debut against Salford in September aged 20 years and 342 days – the youngest goalkeeper to play for Everton since John Ruddy against Blackburn in February 2006 (19y 110d).
Everton’s 5-2 win over West Brom in September was the first time they scored 5 goals in a league after conceding first since their 5-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in September 1985.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 5 goals in the first 3 league games of the season – the first Everton player to do so since Tommy Lawton in 1938/39.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hat-tricks against West Brom and West Ham in September made him the first Everton player to score a hat-trick in consecutive home games since John Willie Parker in February-March 1954.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in each of Everton’s first 5 league games this season – the first player to do so since Tommy Lawton in 1938/39.
Everton scored at least 4 goals in 3 consecutive home games in September and October (against West Brom, West Ham and Brighton) – the first time they did so since September-October 1961.
Everton won each of their first 7 games of the season – this was only the second time they did so in their history (after 1894/95).
Everton signed Ben Godfrey for an initial fee of £20 million on October 5th – their biggest ever October signing, more than three times the previous record (Nick Barmby for £5.75 million in 1996).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored on his England debut against Wales in October – the first Everton player to do so since Fred Pickering against USA in May 1964.
Ben Godfrey made his Everton debut against Liverpool in October – the first player to do so since Aaron Lennon in February 2015.
Ben Godfrey was also only the fourth Everton player whose age on his debut (22) was the same as his shirt number (with Slaven Bilic, Tobias Linderoth and Espen Baardsen).
Niels Nkounkou made his Everton league debut on his 20th birthday against Southampton in November – only the third post-war player to make his Everton league debut on his birthday (after Ken McNaught and Matt Jackson).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a penalty for England against Republic of Ireland in November – excluding penalty shootouts, the first Everton player to do so since Alan Ball against Wales in October 1967.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin took just 9 games to score 10 league goals this season – only Dixie Dean (7 appearances in 1927/28 and 1929/30) and Bert Freeman (8 appearances in 1909/10) have reached that tally in fewer appearances for Everton in a top-flight season.
Mason Holgate scored his first Premier League goal for Everton against Leicester in December in what was his 69th Premier League appearance.
Everton’s defeat to West Ham on New Year’s Day was their 5th consecutive NYD defeat.
Everton’s 12pm kick-off against Rotherham was their earliest kick-off for an FA Cup match in the club’s history.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the first Englishman to score at least 15 goals in all competitions in successive seasons for Everton since Tony Cottee did so in 3 consecutive seasons (1988/89, 1989/90 and 1990/91).
Thierry Small made his Everton debut against Sheffield Wednesday in January at the age of 16 years and 176 days, becoming the Blues’ youngest ever player in a competitive match.
Thierry Small and Tyler Onyango’s debuts against Sheffield Wednesday were only the second time at least 2 players aged 17 or under made their Everton debut in the same domestic match (after Jason Danskin, Derek Walsh and Neill Rimmer against Luton in May 1985).
Everton won 4 consecutive away league games from December to February – the first time they did so since November-December 1985.
Everton’s 5-4 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup in February was their first 5-4 victory since against Watford in September 1984.
Gylfi Sigurdsson provided a hat-trick of assists against Tottenham in February – the first Everton player to do so since Steven Pienaar against Fulham in April 2012.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the fourth Everton player to score his 50th goal for the club against Tottenham (after Dixie Dean, Joe Royle and Duncan Ferguson).
Everton’s defeat to Fulham at Goodison Park in February was their first home defeat to the Cottagers in the league in their history.
Everton lost 3 consecutive home league games by a margin of at least 2 goals from January to February (against Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester City) – the first time they did so since August-September 1958.
Everton won at Anfield for the first time since September 1999.
Everton beat Liverpool by a margin of 2 goals at Anfield for the first time since February 1986.
Richarlison’s goal against Liverpool in February was the first time an Everton player scored in back-to-back Anfield derbies in the Premier League since Tim Cahill in March 2005 and March 2006.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin won a penalty against Liverpool in February – the second time he won a penalty in a Merseyside derby (after December 2017). In doing so, he became the first ever Everton player to win 2 penalties against Liverpool.
Everton beat Jurgen Klopp as opposition manager at their 13th attempt – their longest ever wait for a win against an opposition manager (previously Bob Jackson and Bob Paisley – 11th attempt).
Everton were unbeaten for 9 consecutive away league games from November to March – their longest unbeaten run away from home in the league since a 10-match unbeaten run from December 1984 to May 1985.
Richarlison scored in 4 consecutive league games from February to March – only the second Brazilian to do so in English top flight history (after Mirandinha in November-December 1987).
Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s return to first-team action against Crystal Palace was his first appearance for Everton since against Watford in August 2019 (597 days).
Everton beat Arsenal away from home for the first time since January 1996.
Everton did the league double over Arsenal for the first time since 1985/86.
Everton’s win over Arsenal in April was their first ever win at the Emirates Stadium in what was their 16th match at the ground – the longest wait for a first win at a stadium in the club’s history.
Everton went on a run of 4 consecutive clean sheets away from home in the Premier League from April to May – their longest such run since they kept 5 clean sheets in a row away from home from April to August 1995.
Everton’s defeat to Sheffield United in May was their 499th home league defeat in their history.
Everton did the league double over Wolves for the first time since 1975/76.
Everton have finished 10th place in the Premier League this season. Before the last day of the Premier League season, the lowest position they have been this season was 9th.
Everton’s tally of 59 points this season was more than they managed in 7 of their previous 10 seasons.
Despite earning more points, Everton finished lower than they did in 4 of those 7 seasons (7th/54 pts in 2010/11, 7th/56 pts in 2011/12, 8th/49 pts in 2017/18, 8th/54 pts in 2018/19).
Everton’s tally of 59 points was also the highest number of points for a team who has finished as high as 10th in the English top flight since Coventry in 1986/87 (63 points).
Everton earned 1.947 points per game away from home in the league this season – the second-best ever away record on a PPG basis (behind 1969/70 – 1.952).
Everton earned 1.16 points per game at home in the league this season – the second-worst ever home record on a PPG basis (behind 1957/58 – 1.14).
Everton won 28 points against teams who finished above them this season (W8 D4 L6).
Everton won 31 points against teams who finished below them this season (W9 D4 L7).
Everton won 11 away league games this season – only in 1969/70 and 1984/85 (both 12) they have won more.
Everton kept 9 clean sheets away from home in the league this season – only in 1969/70 (11) they have kept more.
Everton scored 20 goals from inside the six-yard box in the Premier League this season – only West Ham (21) have scored more.
Everton scored 14 headed goals in the Premier League this season – no other team scored more (level with Liverpool and West Ham).
Everton scored 14 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties) – only West Ham (16) and Southampton (15) have scored more.
Everton benefitted from 2 own goals in the Premier League this season – both of them were by Arsenal players (Rob Holding and Bernd Leno).
Everton conceded 12 goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season – only Sheffield United (13) conceded more.
Everton won as many games at Goodison Park in the Premier League this season with fans in attendance (3 out of 3) as without (3 out of 16).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 16 non-penalty goals in the Premier League this season – only Harry Kane (19) scored more.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 10 goals from inside the penalty box in the Premier League this season – 3 more than any other player.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 6 goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League this season – more than any other player.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 7 headed goals in the Premier League this season – more than any other player.
Premier League Top Threes
Games – Sigurdsson (36), Keane (35), Richarlison (34)
On Sunday (1st November 2020), Robin Olsen became the first Swedish goalkeeper to play a competitive match for Everton. Despite the defeat against Newcastle, his performance was praised and was arguably the Blues’ man of the match. His debut came 70 years after another Swedish goalkeeper played for Everton – Bengt Kjell.
In May 1950, Everton went on a post-season tour of Sweden – their first European tour since WWII and their first ever tour of the country. They played against AIK, Helsingborgs and a combined Gothenburg XI. Just before their first match against AIK, disaster struck. Goalkeeper George Burnett injured himself while warming up. To make matters worse, he was the only goalkeeper Everton took to Sweden. Even though he was reported to be not seriously hurt, the club decided not to take any risks and left him out of the match with right back George Saunders taking his place in goal. Everton ultimately lost 3-1 with Harry Catterick scoring for the Blues and Bertil Backvall and a brace from Gosta Nilsson for the Swedish opposition.
Four days later, they played against Helsingborgs. Unfortunately, George Burnett’s injury turned out to be worse than first feared. He suffered a cartilage issue, which meant he had to miss the rest of the tour. Without a goalkeeper available, it looked like Everton had to play an outfield player in goal in their remaining two matches. However, Everton’s first opponents AIK kindly allowed them to borrow their goalkeeper Bengt Kjell. Kjell made his first appearance for the Blues against Helsingborgs and kept a clean sheet. Everton won 1-0 with Harry Catterick scoring his second goal of the tour. By keeping goal against Helsingborgs, it is likely that Bengt Kjell became the first foreign goalkeeper to play a first-team match for Everton.
Two days later, Everton played their last match of the tour against a combined Gothenburg XI, which comprised of Gothenburg-based teams IFK Gothenburg, Orgryte and GAIS. Bengt Kjell was the goalkeeper for the Blues again in his second and final appearance. Despite losing 1-0 at half-time, Everton turned the game around by winning 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Oscar Hold, who came on as a substitute for Peter Farrell. Kjell’s performances in both matches were praised by the Liverpool Evening Express, who said, “his catching and throwing inspired confidence.”
In 2011, Bengt Kjell spoke to an Everton supporters group based in Sweden called Swedish Toffees about his brief spell at Everton for an article about the 1950 tour of Sweden. Everton asked AIK if they could borrow Kjell and AIK allowed him to as he couldn’t play for AIK in any of their remaining Allsvenskan matches. His licence wasn’t ready yet because he had recently joined AIK from Kalmar FF. In fact, the match between Everton and AIK was Kjell’s debut for his new club. He didn’t travel with the team for the Helsingborgs match however he did travel with his temporary teammates for the Gothenburg match.
After his final game for the Blues, he was asked to join Everton as a professional on a permanent basis but he refused because he wanted to play for Sweden and only amateur players were allowed to play for Sweden at the time. As a way of saying thank you for his contribution to the team during the tour, Everton gave Kjell a watch. He said he had no contact with the club since. Despite that, he added he still remembered his time at the club very fondly and he always checked how they were doing.
Everton finished 12th in the Premier League – their lowest finish since 2003/04 (17th).
Everton scored just 24 goals at Goodison Park in the Premier League – the fewest since 2005/06 (22).
Everton lost 11 away games in the Premier League – the most since 2003/04 (also 11).
Everton scored only 8 goals from open play and counter attacks away from home in the Premier League – the second-fewest in the league.
Conversely, they scored 12 goals from set pieces away from home in the Premier League – more than any other team.
Everton have lost against all 3 promoted teams in the Premier League – only the second time they have done so in a single season (after 2000/01).
Everton scored 14 headed goals in the Premier League – only Liverpool (18) scored more.
Everton were awarded only 1 penalty in the Premier League – the fewest since 2007/08 (also 1).
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty against Leicester was Everton’s first penalty in the Premier League since against Chelsea in March 2019.
Sigurdsson’s penalty was also the first penalty Everton scored at Goodison Park since Wayne Rooney against Swansea in December 2017.
Everton scored only 1 goal from outside the box in the Premier League (Gylfi Sigurdsson against West Ham in October).
Everton created 68 chances from corner and free kick situations in the Premier League – more than any other team.
Everton scored 10 goals from corner situations in the Premier League this season – only Liverpool (11) scored more.
Everton kept 9 clean sheets in the Premier League – the fewest since 2010/11 (also 9).
Everton’s 3-2 win over Watford in February was the first time they came from behind to win a Premier League game since against Swansea in December 2017, which ended a run of 40 league games where they failed to come from behind to win.
The turnaround against Watford was also the first time they won a Premier League game after being 2 goals down since against the same opposition in November 2017.
The turnaround against Watford was also the first time they won an away Premier League game after being 2 goals down since against West Brom in September 2015.
Bournemouth were the first relegated team to do the league double over Everton since Middlesbrough and Sunderland in 1996/97.
Everton’s win against Burnley on Boxing Day was only the second time in their history that they beat the same opposition on Boxing Day in consecutive years (after Bolton in 1957 and 1958).
Everton lost a league game to a team that eventually finished bottom of the Premier League (Norwich) for the first time since 1997/98 (a home defeat to Crystal Palace on the opening day).
Player Stats
Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both scored 15 goals in all competitions. This is the first time at least two Everton players scored 15+ goals in all competitions in a single season since Adrian Heath, Kevin Sheedy and Trevor Steven scored 16 in 1986/87.
Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin also both scored at least 10 league goals this season before their 23rd birthday – the first time two Everton players under the age of 23 scored 10+ league goals in a single season since Trevor Steven and Derek Mountfield in 1984/85.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored 13 Premier League goals – the most by an Everton number 9 in a single season since Tony Cottee in 1993/94 (16).
Moise Kean’s first start for Everton against Lincoln in the League Cup made him the first player born in the 2000s to start a match for Everton.
Kean’s goal against Newcastle in January made him the first player born in the 2000s to score a goal for Everton.
Kean’s goal against Newcastle also made him only the fourth foreign teenager to score a goal for Everton (after Victor Anichebe, Apostolos Vellios and Gerard Deulofeu).
Theo Walcott’s goal against Watford in February was the first time Everton scored a 90th-minute winner in the Premier League since Leighton Baines against the same opposition in November 2017.
Walcott’s goal against Watford was also the first time Everton scored a 90th-minute winner away from home in the Premier League since Tom Cleverley against Newcastle in December 2015.
Walcott’s goal against Watford was also the first time Everton scored a match-winning goal with 10 men since Jermaine Beckford against Chelsea in May 2011.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goals against Arsenal and Manchester United in February and March made him the first Everton player to score a goal in the first 3 minutes in consecutive league games since Derek Temple against Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday in November 1957.
Calvert-Lewin’s goal against Arsenal was the first time Everton scored in the first minute of a Premier League game since Tom Davies against Leicester in April 2017.
Calvert-Lewin’s goal against Arsenal was also the first time Everton scored a goal in the first minute of an away Premier League game since Kevin Campbell against Newcastle in April 1999.
When Jarrad Branthwaite made his Premier League debut against Wolves at the age of 18 years and 15 days, he became Everton’s youngest PL debutant since Tom Davies against Southampton in April 2016 (17y 291d).
Lucas Digne provided 7 assists in the Premier League – the most by an Everton player since Ross Barkley in 2016/17 (8).
Lucas Digne created 72 chances in the Premier League – only Trent Alexander-Arnold (87) created more among defenders.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin committed 57 fouls in the Premier League – only Jordan Ayew (59) committed more.
Richarlison made 29 headed shots in the Premier League – more than any other player.
Incidentally, Dominic Calvert-Lewin made 27 (3rd) and Yerry Mina made 23 (6th).
Jordan Pickford made 4 errors leading to a goal in the Premier League – only Martin Dubravka (5) made more.
Jordan Pickford also made as many errors leading to a goal in the Premier League as every other Everton player combined.
Moise Kean was subbed on 23 times in the Premier League – more than any other player.
Richarlison was fouled 72 times in the Premier League – the sixth-most in the league.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin won 180 aerial duels in the Premier League – the sixth-most in the league.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed 17 big chances in the Premier League – the eighth-most in the league.
Premier League Stats
Total
Most goals – Calvert-Lewin/Richarlison (13), Bernard (3)
Most shots – Richarlison (90), Calvert-Lewin (85), Sigurdsson (46)
Most shots on target – Calvert-Lewin (38), Richarlison (32), Sigurdsson (14)
Most assists – Digne (7), Sidibe (4), Holgate/Richarlison/Sigurdsson/Walcott (3)
Most chances created – Digne (72), Sigurdsson (51), Richarlison (34)
Most attempted dribbles – Richarlison (111), Coleman (58), Iwobi (52)
Most successful dribbles – Richarlison (61), Coleman (38), Iwobi (32)
Most interceptions – Keane (44), Digne (42), Sidibe (40)
Most clearances – Keane (150), Mina (98), Holgate (94)
Most attempted tackles – Sidibe (112), Digne (108), Sigurdsson (101)
Most successful tackles – Sidibe (83), Digne (73), Richarlison (70)
Most shots blocked – Keane (28), Mina (14), Holgate (13)
How much do you know about Leighton Baines’ Everton career? Test yourself by having a go at this quiz!
Which team did Everton sign Leighton Baines from for an initial fee of £5 million in August 2007?
Baines made his Everton debut against which team in August 2007?
Baines scored his first goal for Everton directly from a free kick against which team in March 2009?
Baines registered 53 assists in the Premier League for Everton - a Premier League record for a defender. Who did he set up to score the most often?
Baines has scored more penalties than any other Everton player in the club's history. How many did he score (excluding shootouts)?
Baines once had a penalty saved but then hit the post and then the goalkeeper on the back of his head and went into the goal. Who was the unfortunate goalkeeper who scored that own goal?
Baines scored 7 goals directly from free kicks for Everton - how many were at Goodison Park?
Baines played in every Everton match in all competitions in a single season only once - which season?
Baines' shirt number at Everton has always been number 3. Who wore the number 3 shirt for the Blues immediately before him?
Baines' last goal for Everton was a memorable strike against Leicester in the League Cup in December 2019. Who assisted him?
