Everton Betting

The Liverpool-area powerhouse known as Everton Football Club had humble beginnings indeed. Back in 1878, a group of cricketers affiliated with the St. Domingo Methodist Church Sunday School decided to set up a football team so that they could keep fit during the winter season. They used wooden posts as makeshift goals in the southeast corner of Stanley Park for their pitch.

Within a year, St. Domingo’s FC had established an excellent reputation locally and began recruiting players from outside the parish. That in turn led to a name change for the group, and in December 1879, the new Everton Football Club wearing blue and white striped shirts thrashed St. Peter’s six goals to nil at Stanley Park.

By the time the Football league was established in 1888, it was clear that Everton would be founding members. After finishing runners-up in 1889-90, they won their first League championship in 1890-91. Then, they narrowly missed winning the title again in 1894-95, losing only one match at home all season, while Sunderland nudged past them on the table by five points.

In the meantime, a move was made to the new purpose-built Goodison Park stadium, which has remained Everton’s home ground till this day. It was here that a new tradition was born, tossing free Everton Mints to the crowd prior to each match. The original candies were made by Mother Noblett’s Toffee Shop, and the Club got a new nickname as a result—The Toffees or Toffeemen.

In 1901-02, Everton adopted Royal Blue and White as their official team colours, which earned them another nickname, too. That season, the “Blues” came within three points of the League title, again losing out to Sunderland. Then, in 1904-05, Newcastle United squeezed past them by a single point.

Everton would play the bridesmaid again in 1908-09 and 1911-12 before finally lifting the League trophy for a second time at the close of the 1914-15 season. En route to that accomplishment, they claimed their first FA Cup, beating Newcastle United 1-0 at The Crystal Palace before a crowd of 75,609 in 1906.

The period between the two World Wars was one of peaks and valleys for the Blues. Powered by the scoring of forward Dixie Dean, Everton rose to the top of the table and captured their third League title in 1927-28. They added their first Charity Cup in 1928, too. But two seasons later the Club finished rock-bottom and for the first time fell through the relegation trap door to begin the 1930s in the Second Division.

Almost immediately, the rollercoaster began its next ascent. Everton swept away the Division Two title in 1930-31 and then stormed straight to a fourth League trophy in 1931-32. As if to prove a point, they took the 1932 Charity Cup and then grabbed the 1933 FA Cup as well, demolishing Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley Stadium.

Although the “Dean Era” came to close in 1937, Everton still had enough fire power to win one more League championship in 1938-39 before play was interrupted by World War II. Resumption introduced a period of mediocrity, and the 1950-51 season was followed by relegation once again. This time, there would be no immediate rebound. It took three seasons in the Second Division for the Toffees to find their way back to the top flight, where the true revival could begin.

League championship trophies won in 1962-63 and 1969-70 served as bookends for the 1966 FA Cup, as did Charity Shields earned in 1963 and 1970. The 1980s saw even more silverware added to the Goodison Park trophy case: four consecutive Charity Shields (1984~87), two League titles (1984-5 and 1986-87), and the 1985 FA Cup.

When the Premiership was formed in 1992, Everton were among the founders. Their last big year of the 20th century was 1995, when the Club’s ninth Charity Shield and fifth FA Cup were won. In 2009, they just missed gaining another FA Cup, falling to Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley.

With 108 seasons in the highest ranks of British football, the Blues have avoided relegation continuously since 1954 and played more top-tier league games than any other English team. Their nine top-flight championships put them fourth among all teams. Handicappers looking for consistency can hardly find a better bet than Everton FC. One especially intriguing wagering opportunity is any match-up with derby rival Liverpool.

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