Opening Day

Everton’s Premier League season starts this weekend with a tough trip to Wolves. The Street End take a look back at some of the more memorable opening day fixtures over recent years.

 

2012 – 2013 Everton 1 Manchester United 0

Opening day in 2012 saw David Moyes final season as Everton manager begin with a 1 nil win against his next club, Manchester United. The Toffees faced a difficult challenge as United were favourites and had finished 2^nd in the previous season. Marouanne Fellaini, however, had other ideas.

The towering Belgian, also in his final season at Everton, put in a dominant performance. He terrorised the United defence that day. His strength and ability with his back to goal helped Everton create the better chances against that seasons champions. He had a couple of good chances himself and even hit the post after a great turn.

The key moment in the game was a corner in the 57^th minute. Darron Gibson swung in a corner and Fellaini powered a header into the Gwladys Street net. Typically of Moyes time at Everton, Everton defended doggedly in front of a ferocious Goodison crowd. Phil Jagielka gave one of his best appearances in an Everton shirt and along with Sylvain Distain, led Everton to an opening day victory.

1996 – 1997 Everton 2 Newcastle 0

Everton started the 1996 season with a stunning win over Newcastle United. Newcastle had just signed Alan Shearer for a British record £15 million and were favourites but Duncan Ferguson spoiled the party for the Geordies. Ferguson was a man possessed that day and gave the Geordie defence a torrid time. He bulled his way past Steve Watson and managed to earn a penalty. David Unsworth coolly slotted the penalty.

Everton had their own marquee signing with Gary Speed having signed that summer for a fifth of the price of Shearer. He started to repay that fee almost immediately. Ferguson guided a header into the path of the on rushing Speed who smashed the ball into the street end net. Everton were 2 up at half time and Shearer’s dream debut was in tatters.

1988 – 1989 Everton 4 Newcastle 0

One striker who did have a dream debut after signing for a record British transfer fee was Tony Cottee. The diminutive cockney signed for Everton for a few of £2.2 million from West Ham. He made an instant impression scoring a hat trick in a 4 nil on opening day in 1988.

Cottee showed his excellence in the penalty box by grabbing 3 ‘poachers finishes.’ Pat Nevin, Stuart McCall and Neil McDonald also made their debuts that day and Everton were rampant. The nucleus of the side who had won the title only 2 seasons previously were still there and Evertonians began to dream of extending their dynasty. Unfortunately, the team didn’t gel. Cottee, whilst scoring 99 goals for Everton, could not replace what had gone before him.

1981-1982 Everton 3 Birmingham City 1

Opening day in 1981 saw Howard Kendall’s first game as Everton manager. Kendall began with a 3 1 win over the side that he left Everton for as a player in 1974. He chose 5 of his magnificent 7 for the first team that day, with Arnold, Walsh, Thomas, Ainscow and Biley all starting. After going down a goal early on to Tony van Mierlo. Alan Ainscow replied for Everton with a low drive across goal and Everton were on top.

Everton won a penalty for handball after Mick Lyons won a header. Asa Hartford missed 2 attempts as the kick had to be retaken after the keeper had moved early. He was to leave Everton 2 months later. Lyons played a part in Everton’s 2^nd goal. His header from the corner was bundled in by Peter Eastoe to put Everton ahead. Hartford redeemed himself for his penalty miss by playing in Alan Biley for the first of his 3 goals for Everton. The Rod Stewartalike was the Davy Klaassen of his time, promising much but delivering little.

The 3-1 win was the first of Howard Kendall’s 246 wins as Everton manager. Everton played 327 games under Kendall in his first spell and he won 54% of them. An astonishing statistic. Of his starting 11 that day, only 1 of them won a trophy with Everton. The left back, John Bailey, played in the 1984 FA Cup final victory over Watford.

1969 -1970 Everton 1 Arsenal 0

Everton began the 1969 – 1970 season with a tough trip to Arsenal.  The 3^rd and 4^th teams from the season before played in front of an expectant Highbury crowd who weren’t disappointed. Both teams had their chances with Arsenal forward Bobby Gould a constant thorn in the Everton side. Everton’s holy trinity gradually took control of the game but the game was won by wing half John Hurst in front of 44364 supporters at Highbury.

The 1969 -1970 Everton side were the epitome of the school of science. Harry Catterick had put together a great side with players like Howard Kendall and Alan Ball brought in to complement local talent such as Colin Harvey and Joe Royle. The team was a talented as they were tough and won Everton their 7^th league tile and Catterick’s second. If Marco Silva can achieve even half the success of managers like Kendall and Catterick, Everton are in good hands.

Were you at any of these games? Share your memories in the comments section below. Personally, I loved Peter Eastoe.