Everton V Earlestown

Written by Steven Dowd

Everton FC beat Earlestown 1-0 in a match played at Evertons homeground of Priory Rd, this 1-0 victory over Earlestown in the Liverpool Cup of 1884 gained Everton its first ever football trophy. Shortly after their success over Earlestown, John Houldings Everton Club were asked to vacate their Priory Road home ground. Anfield was leased and the new ground built in 1884 The first match Everton played at their new Anfield football ground was on September 27, 1884, this first match was against Earlestown, who were beaten 5-0, this was six years before Liverpool Football Club was formed. Here are a few more facts about Earlestown FC 1899-00 Joined Lancashire League 1903 Lancashire League closed down 1903-04 Joined Lancashire Combination as founder members of new Division 2 Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up Promoted to Division One 1906 Relegated to Division Two 1906-07 Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up Promoted to Division One Oct 1911  Disbanded. Fixtures taken over by Heywood United ?         New Earlestown club formed 1949-50   Joined Lancashire Combination Division Two           Lancashire Combination Division Two runner-up     Promoted to Division One 1952      Relegated to Division Two 1958-59   Promoted to Division One

On the 27 th September 1884 Everton played their first game at Anfield when Earlestown kindly accepted an invitation to provide the opposition. A large crowd came to see the game which kicked off at 3.50pm and they were not disappointed as Everton ran out 5-0 winners. The team that represented Everton for their first game at their new home was:

Lindsay; Marriott, Morris; Pickering, Preston; Richards, Parry, Gibson, Whittle, McGill and Higgins.

Higgins had the distinction of being the first player to score at Anfield with the other goals coming from Whittle (2), Gibson and Richards.