Everton F.C.

Everton Football Club are an English football club from the city of Liverpool, founded in 1878. They are one of the most successful clubs in English football, having played more seasons in the top division (103 of a possible 107) and won more points in the top division than any other team.

The 1980s: A Golden Era

Everton were strong contenders in the 1980s as one of Europe's top footballing sides thanks to the efforts of manager Howard Kendall and his impressive, though cheap, playing squad which included the likes of Neville Southall, Gary Stevens, Trevor Steven, Kevin Sheedy, Andy Gray and Peter Reid. Gary Lineker also graced Goodison for a season and hit 40 goals in all before moving on to Barcelona in 1986.

Related Topics:
Howard Kendall - Neville Southall - Gary Stevens - Trevor Steven - Kevin Sheedy - Andy Gray - Peter Reid - Gary Lineker

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Domestically, Everton won the FA Cup in 1984 and league title in 1985 and another league title in 1987. They were also league title/FA Cup runners-up to neighbouring Liverpool in 1986 and were again on the losing side to Liverpool in the 1984 League Cup final and the 1989 FA Cup final.

Related Topics:
FA Cup - League Cup

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Significantly, European success at last reached Goodison in 1985 in the shape of the European Cup Winners' Cup. After going through two-legged rounds against University College Dublin, Inter Bratislava and Fortuna Sittard, Everton defeated German giants Bayern Munich 3-1 in the semi-finals despite trailing at half time (in a match voted the greatest in Goodison Park history) and recorded the same scoreline against Austrian club Rapid Vienna in the final.

Related Topics:
European Cup Winners' Cup - University College Dublin - Inter Bratislava - Fortuna Sittard - Bayern Munich - Rapid Vienna

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1985 was the year in which Everton almost recorded the "treble". They managed to capture the league title and the Cup Winners' Cup but were defeated by Manchester United in the FA Cup Final thanks to Norman Whiteside's extra-time goal. Nevertheless, it was arguably the club's most successful season since its creation and has not been equalled by future Everton teams since.

Related Topics:
Manchester United - FA Cup

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is widely believed that the 1980s Everton team would have gone on to win even more European silverware after their 1985 Cup Winners' Cup success were it not for the banning of all English clubs from continental competitions by UEFA after the Heysel Stadium disaster (involving, darkly ironically, Liverpool fans). However, this claim can never be substantiated, as by the time the ban was lifted Everton were no longer the team they were in 1985.

Related Topics:
UEFA - Heysel Stadium disaster

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kendall left in 1987 to hand over the reins to assistant Colin Harvey.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~