# Everton F.C.

**Everton F.C.** is an English professional football club based in Liverpool, which competes in the Premier League. Formed in 1878 as St Domingo's FC out of a Methodist chapel congregation, the club has won nine English league championships, five FA Cups, and one European trophy, the [UEFA Cup Winners' Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-cup-winners-cup) in 1985<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)</sup>. Since August 2025 the men's first team has played at the 52,769-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, ending 133 years at [Goodison Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/goodison-park)<sup>[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4725666/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-20-premier-league-stadiums)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IOWtp04jSM)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1878, as St Domingo's FC, from the St Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel (founded 1871)<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4592046)</sup>  |
| League titles | 9: 1891, 1915, 1928, 1932, 1939, 1963, 1970, 1985, 1987<sup>[2](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)</sup> |
| FA Cups | 5: 1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, 1995<sup>[2](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)</sup> |
| European honors | European Cup Winners' Cup 1985, beating SK Rapid Wien 3-1 in Rotterdam<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup> |
| Current stadium | Hill Dickinson Stadium, Bramley-Moore Dock, capacity 52,769, opened August 2025<sup>[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4725666/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-20-premier-league-stadiums)</sup> |
| Owner | The Friedkin Group, 98.8% acquisition completed 19 December 2024<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/32af81fc84f30add4cf4de1dbe662da0)</sup> |
| Manager | David Moyes, since 11 January 2025<sup>[7](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4325264)</sup> |
| Motto and nicknames | Nil Satis Nisi Optimum; the Blues, the Toffees, the School of Science<sup>[2](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>  |

## Origins and early history

The club grew out of the St Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel, founded in 1871; the team that became Everton was formed as St Domingo's FC in 1878 and took the name Everton from the Liverpool district<sup>[5](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4592046)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://efcheritagesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Blueblood-An-Everton-Fanzine-Volume-4-Issue-20-Page-1.pdf)</sup>. Early matches were played at [Stanley Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/stanley-park), and from 1884 the club played at Anfield, where the first game was against Earlestown on 27 September 1884<sup>[9](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/our-former-homes)</sup>.

Everton became a professional club while at Anfield and played its first Football League fixture there against Accrington Stanley on 8 September 1888, as one of the league's twelve founder members<sup>[9](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/our-former-homes)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>. A dispute with the ground's owner, John Houlding, led the club to move to Goodison Park in 1892; Houlding then formed a new club at Anfield, which became [Liverpool F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/liverpool-f-c)<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4592046)</sup>.

## Honours and records

Everton's nine league championships are bettered among English clubs only by Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal; the first came in 1891 and the most recent in 1987<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>. The club has also won the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) five times, most recently in 1995, and holds the record for FA Cup final defeats, losing eight of its thirteen appearances, most recently to Chelsea in 2009<sup>[2](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>.

**The 1984-85 season** was the club's high-water mark. Under manager [Howard Kendall](https://www.edgepedia.org/howard-kendall), Everton won the First Division championship, the FA Cup in 1984, and the European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating [SK Rapid Wien](https://www.edgepedia.org/sk-rapid-wien) 3-1 in [Rotterdam](https://www.edgepedia.org/rotterdam) with goals from Andy Gray, Trevor Steven, and Kevin Sheedy<sup>[10](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/honours/championship-wins/1984-85)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>. The team was unbeaten for 28 league games between Boxing Day and mid-May<sup>[10](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/honours/championship-wins/1984-85)</sup>. Kendall remains the last English manager to win a major European trophy with an English club<sup>[11](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d80a8fff48c-af29d82fbc68-1000--english-football-mourns-everton-great-kendall/)</sup>.

Everton also took part in, and won, the first penalty shoot-out in [European Champion Clubs' Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-champion-clubs-cup) history, beating [Borussia Mönchengladbach](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-monchengladbach) 4-3 on spot kicks at Goodison Park in the 1970/71 season after both legs of the last-16 tie ended 1-1<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>.

**Dixie Dean** set the club's most enduring individual record. The center-forward William Ralph "Dixie" Dean scored 60 league goals in Everton's 1927/28 title-winning campaign, still an English record, and became football's first-ever No 9 when shirts were officially numbered at the 1933 FA Cup final, which Everton won 3-0<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>. Everton strikers have topped the English top-flight scoring chart twelve times, more than any other club<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>.

## League membership

Everton has spent more seasons in England's top division than any other club<sup>[12](https://www.premierleague.com/en/events/summerseries/clubs)</sup>. Between 1888 and the present it has spent only four seasons outside the top tier, in 1930/31 and from 1951 to 1954, and it has been an ever-present in the top division since 1954<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://apnews.com/article/3262661f91601e4884468b60d85f9656)</sup>. It is one of only three clubs to have been a founder member of both the Football League and the Premier League<sup>[12](https://www.premierleague.com/en/events/summerseries/clubs)</sup>.

## Goodison Park and the move to the waterfront

Goodison Park, football's first purpose-built stadium, was Everton's home from 1892 and hosted matches at the 1966 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup), including Pelé's Brazil and Eusébio's Portugal<sup>[1](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)</sup>. By its final years the ground had become cramped and lacked modern facilities<sup>[14](https://www.hpe.com/psnow/downloadDoc/Building%20football%E2%80%99s%20new%20field%20of%20dreams%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20applies%20digital%20layer%20to%20create%20new%20standards%20in%20matchday%20experience%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20Football%20Club-a50014200enw.pdf?contentDisposition=attachment&deepLink=&form=false&hf=regular&id=a50014200enw&isFutureVersion=true&isLinearized=false&originalObjectName=&prelaunchSection=&preview=false&print=&r=&section=&softrollSection=&ver=1)</sup>.

The club's new stadium was built at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool's waterfront; [Laing O'Rourke](https://www.edgepedia.org/laing-orourke) handed over the 52,888-seat venue in December 2024, less than three and a half years after breaking ground and ahead of schedule<sup>[15](https://www.laingorourke.com/media/lwtllkre/lor-corp-fy25_final-signed.pdf)</sup>. The law firm Hill Dickinson became the naming rights partner in May 2025<sup>[16](https://www.hilldickinsonstadium.com/news/2025/may/16/hill-dickinson-named-as-official-stadium-naming-rights-partner-/)</sup>. The stadium received its safety certificate on 21 August 2025<sup>[17](https://images.gc.evertonfcservices.co.uk/d570b570-2cf1-11f1-a494-13d6f36c2b98.pdf)</sup>, and the first Premier League match there was a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on 24 August 2025<sup>[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4725666/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-20-premier-league-stadiums)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[18](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4389987/in-photos-hill-dickinson-stadium-hosts-first-premier-league-match)</sup>. At 52,769 seats it is the seventh-largest ground in the Premier League and gives Everton roughly a one-third increase in matchday attendance over Goodison Park<sup>[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4725666/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-20-premier-league-stadiums)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://www.hpe.com/psnow/downloadDoc/Building%20football%E2%80%99s%20new%20field%20of%20dreams%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20applies%20digital%20layer%20to%20create%20new%20standards%20in%20matchday%20experience%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20Football%20Club-a50014200enw.pdf?contentDisposition=attachment&deepLink=&form=false&hf=regular&id=a50014200enw&isFutureVersion=true&isLinearized=false&originalObjectName=&prelaunchSection=&preview=false&print=&r=&section=&softrollSection=&ver=1)</sup>. Everton Women moved to Goodison Park after the men's team departed, with a substantial uplift in attendances<sup>[19](https://images.gc.evertonfcservices.co.uk/e74dcbc0-f231-11f0-90fd-a75a4bd7b3a1.pdf)</sup>.

## Ownership and financial sanctions

[Farhad Moshiri](https://www.edgepedia.org/farhad-moshiri)'s eight-year tenure ended on 19 December 2024, when the Texas-based Friedkin Group, fronted by [Dan Friedkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-friedkin) and his son Ryan, completed a 98.8% purchase of the club; the group's portfolio also includes the Italian club Roma<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/32af81fc84f30add4cf4de1dbe662da0)</sup>. The takeover followed the collapse of a proposed acquisition by 777 Partners<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/32af81fc84f30add4cf4de1dbe662da0)</sup>. British media valued the deal at more than £400 million, and the Friedkin Group became the tenth American majority owner in the Premier League<sup>[6](https://apnews.com/article/32af81fc84f30add4cf4de1dbe662da0)</sup>.

**Financial rule breaches** dominated the 2023/24 season. In November 2023 an independent commission imposed an immediate 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules for the three-year period ending 2021-22, in which Everton exceeded the £105 million loss threshold by £19.5 million; on appeal the sanction was reduced to six points<sup>[20](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68723109)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[21](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68273436)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[22](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cpdgry97nmvo)</sup>. In April 2024 a second commission deducted a further two points for a breach in the period ending 2022-23, making Everton the first club in English top-flight history to receive two separate points deductions in a single season<sup>[20](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68723109)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[23](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/every-club-to-have-had-been-deduced-points-in-the-premier-league)</sup>. The club was later ordered to pay more than £35 million in compensation to Burnley, which argued it would have avoided relegation in 2021-22 had Everton's penalty been applied that season<sup>[24](https://apnews.com/article/5892f34bcba7d4209d2299dee1e5da7b)</sup>.

## Recent seasons

[David Moyes](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-moyes), who previously managed Everton from 2002, returned as manager on 11 January 2025<sup>[7](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4325264)</sup>. Under him the club secured Premier League safety in 2024/25 and finished 13th in each of the first two seasons at the new stadium, in 2025/26 coming within three points of a Champions League place in March before a run of three points from the last seven fixtures<sup>[25](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/everton-were-noticeably-improved-last-season-but-there-is-still-a-way-to-go-if-the-merseyside-club-wish-to-be-competitive-everton-2026-27-season-preview)</sup>.

## References

1. [Ten claims to fame: Everton, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/021c-0e8e8b2c183e-8d7a1a21cb93-1000--ten-claims-to-fame-everton/)
2. [2009/10 UEFA Europa League statistics handbook, UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/publications/uefa/uefamedia/88/42/78/884278_download.pdf)
3. [All you need to know about the 20 Premier League stadiums, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4725666/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-20-premier-league-stadiums)
4. [Everton's new home is READY for first Premier League game, Everton FC YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IOWtp04jSM)
5. [What is the history behind every Premier League club's name?, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4592046)
6. [Friedkin Group completes purchase of Everton, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/32af81fc84f30add4cf4de1dbe662da0)
7. [Premier League managers, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4325264)
8. [Blueblood: An Everton Fanzine, Everton Heritage Society](https://efcheritagesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Blueblood-An-Everton-Fanzine-Volume-4-Issue-20-Page-1.pdf)
9. [Our Former Homes, Everton Football Club](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/our-former-homes)
10. [1984/85 Championship win, Everton Football Club](https://www.evertonfc.com/club/history/honours/championship-wins/1984-85)
11. [English football mourns Everton great Kendall, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0253-0d80a8fff48c-af29d82fbc68-1000--english-football-mourns-everton-great-kendall/)
12. [Clubs Playing, Premier League Summer Series US 2025](https://www.premierleague.com/en/events/summerseries/clubs)
13. [Everton reaches agreement with Friedkin Group, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/3262661f91601e4884468b60d85f9656)
14. [Building football's new field of dreams, Everton FC / HPE](https://www.hpe.com/psnow/downloadDoc/Building%20football%E2%80%99s%20new%20field%20of%20dreams%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20applies%20digital%20layer%20to%20create%20new%20standards%20in%20matchday%20experience%20%E2%80%93%20Everton%20Football%20Club-a50014200enw.pdf?contentDisposition=attachment&deepLink=&form=false&hf=regular&id=a50014200enw&isFutureVersion=true&isLinearized=false&originalObjectName=&prelaunchSection=&preview=false&print=&r=&section=&softrollSection=&ver=1)
15. [How we deliver, Laing O'Rourke corporate report FY25](https://www.laingorourke.com/media/lwtllkre/lor-corp-fy25_final-signed.pdf)
16. [Hill Dickinson Named As Official Stadium Naming Rights Partner, Hill Dickinson Stadium](https://www.hilldickinsonstadium.com/news/2025/may/16/hill-dickinson-named-as-official-stadium-naming-rights-partner-/)
17. [Everton Annual Report & Accounts 2025](https://images.gc.evertonfcservices.co.uk/d570b570-2cf1-11f1-a494-13d6f36c2b98.pdf)
18. [In photos: Hill Dickinson Stadium hosts first Premier League match, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4389987/in-photos-hill-dickinson-stadium-hosts-first-premier-league-match)
19. [Everton Fan Advisory Board / Fans' Forum minutes](https://images.gc.evertonfcservices.co.uk/e74dcbc0-f231-11f0-90fd-a75a4bd7b3a1.pdf)
20. [Everton deducted two points for second breach of Premier League financial rules, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68723109)
21. [Everton points deduction reduced from 10 points to six after appeal, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68273436)
22. [Everton and Nottingham Forest: Why Toffees have more points deducted, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cpdgry97nmvo)
23. [Every club to have been deducted points in the Premier League, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/every-club-to-have-had-been-deduced-points-in-the-premier-league)
24. [Potential sanctions against Man City, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/5892f34bcba7d4209d2299dee1e5da7b)
25. [Everton 2026-27 season preview, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/everton-were-noticeably-improved-last-season-but-there-is-still-a-way-to-go-if-the-merseyside-club-wish-to-be-competitive-everton-2026-27-season-preview)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › Teams and sporting organizations › Football clubs of England and Wales › Football clubs of Northern England*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license