The history and downfall of Everton

Shock to the system or expected: The history & downfall of Everton

Everton FC (founded as St. Domingo FC) was formed in 1878 becoming one of the founding members of the football league in 1888/89. Winning the league for first time in 1890/91 and then the FA cup for the first time in 1906. Everton recieved sustained success for the first time in 1927 after the signing of Dixie Dean. But was relegated to the second divison after internal turmoil but bounced straight back at the first time of asking and won the Divison One title at the first time of asking in 1931/32 and added a fifth title in 198/39. However the outbreak of the Second World War saw footballs suspension and when it returned Everton were not the same and were relegated in 1950/51 and did not bounce back until 1953/54 where they finished as runners up (however this is the last relegation fo the club who have been everpresent since). The next era of success was not far away however as Harry Catterick took charge in 1961 and had won the league in his second season in charge, closely followed by an FA Cup and another league. Also becoming the first Englih club to achieve five years consecutively in Europe. Failure in the seasons followed with many managers coming and going and no silverware for the rest of the 1970’s. But the most successful and last silverware covered period fo the club soon came as Howard Kendall cane and won an FA Cup and two League Championships in the 1980’s. But the crowning jewel was the clubs only European trophy aftr winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985. Again though outside football disaster struck as the Heysel disaster saw English clubs banned from Europe and the players and stuff of the winning side split apart. Next came the Premier League Era, of which Everton were one of the founding members in 1992 but struggled for the inital years with chopping and changing of manager, only seeing silverware in1995 with their fifth FA Cup. Howard Kendall came back for his third spell but after only avoiding relegation on goal difference and managers came and went again before David Moyes came in. The closet to success the Toffees has seen is a fourth place finish in 2004 with UEFA Cup qualifications three times and FA Cup runners-up under Moyes. Since then Everton’s vision of the club they want to be has been unclear with different style coaches including Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez and current manager Frank Lampard. As seen aross the history of the Blue side of Merseyside have had periods of success followed by the down period and nothing can demonstate this more than as time of writing Everton are three points off relegation (but with games in hand on teams around them). As shown though sometimes it has seen lack of success due to the world outside of football such as the World Wars and Heysel; and with current world situation in Ukraine, the Toffees could be in an even worsesituation as owner Farhad Moshiri has many Russian connections, specifically Alisher Usmanov (who like Roman Abramovich ha seen his assets frozen). Many believe, especially fans, believe and worry the same could come into place for their club. But Moshiri and the club has tried hard to clear themselves of relations releasing that they have “suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsership arrangements with Russian companies...” Moshiri also stepped down as USM (Russian Company) chairman There is alos the discussion of point deductions for teams such as Chelsea and Everton which would be disaster and many fans believe this is unfair treatment, but it is well-known of some owners having dark times and that the time has come to punish those involved. It is going to get worse before it gets better for those involved as Andy Applyby, chairman and CEO of general sports & Entertainment, says: “ I think if this invasion continues, authorities will go down deeper into that network abd its posible they could identify Moshiri as an issue and ask him to step side.” Continuing off the pitch Everton are a money pit internally with a rough $350m loss in the last thee years (since Moshiri ownership) and has been able to avoid FFP due to his ownership. With all this and FFP catching to Everton, their new stadium looks in severe doubt after finally being approved as the club will not be able to spend the £500-700m even if Moshiri stays and Kevin Thelwell etting out an ‘internal’ transfer claim with the academy due to lack of funds. On the pitch the Blues have not been any better with a lack of tranfer or managerial plan with contrasting styles, reluctancy to give managers time and over investment in midfield and a lack of elsewhere on the pitch. They are underperforming xG by 1.94 and xGA by 3.99 so they can feel they have underperformed on the pitch scoring less and conceding more than expected. And has seen a lack of luck with the Digne situation and exit, Calvert-Lewin injury woes and Benitez treatment. But all these could have been avoided with a plan. So the years of mismanagment and planning finally have caught Everton and the real world tragedy has only added to the poor natur of how the club has been ran. The only shining light is the support of the fans throughout this time.