1984–85 Everton F.C. season
During the 1984–85 English football season, Everton F.C. competed in the Football League First Division and finished as champions for the first time in 15 years, also winning the European Cup Winners' Cup.
| 1984–85 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Philip Carter |
| Manager | Howard Kendall |
| First Division | 1st (champions) |
| FA Cup | Runners-up |
| League Cup | Fourth round |
| FA Charity Shield | Winners |
| European Cup Winners' Cup | Winners |
| Top goalscorer | League: Graeme Sharp (21) All: Graeme Sharp (27) |
| Highest home attendance | 51,045 v Liverpool (23 May 1985) |
| Lowest home attendance | 16,277 v University College Dublin (3 October 1984) |
| Average home league attendance | 32,131 |
Season summary
Everton enjoyed a hugely successful season, winning the First Division with 90 points (13 more than runners-up Liverpool) and the Cup Winners' Cup with a 3–1 win over Rapid Vienna. In recognition of these achievements, Howard Kendall was voted Manager of the Year while goalkeeper Neville Southall and midfielder Peter Reid picked up the FWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Players' Player of the Year awards respectively. Domestically, the only downside to the season was the FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United which prevented Kendall's team from completing a domestic double and continental treble. Further disappointment would follow when UEFA's blanket ban on English clubs following the Heysel stadium disaster denied Everton the opportunity to compete in the following season's European Cup.
Everton had ended the 1983–84 campaign by beating Watford 2–0 in the FA Cup final to claim their first piece of silverware for 14 years. Kendall saw little need to make major alterations to his squad although midfielder Paul Bracewell was a notable acquisition, signed for £425,000 from Sunderland, and another was made a few weeks into the new season when Everton paid Birmingham City £100,000 for Pat Van Den Hauwe who quickly made the left-back spot his own. Southall was by now established as first-choice goalkeeper with the defence augmented by right-back Gary Stevens and the centre-back pairing of Derek Mountfield and skipper Kevin Ratcliffe. Reid and Bracewell were flanked in midfield by Trevor Steven and Kevin Sheedy while Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray ended the season as the regular forward line after a serious knee injury suffered against Sheffield Wednesday ended Adrian Heath's season prematurely.
Although the season opened with victory over Liverpool in the Charity Shield, Everton's league campaign began poorly with a 4–1 thrashing by Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park followed two days later by a 2–1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion. However, a Kevin Richardson goal gave them victory at Chelsea on the last day of August and they went through September unbeaten, notching up further away wins at Newcastle United and Watford, although three home matches produced only a narrow win over Coventry City and two draws.
October began with defeat at Arsenal but Everton then found their best form with successive victories over Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester United. Sharp's wonder goal clinched their first win at Anfield since the 1969-70 championship season and they were arguably even more impressive in beating Ron Atkinson's United the following week. Sheedy (twice), Heath, Stevens and Sharp scored in a 5–0 win that in no way flattered Everton. As if to prove a point, they went to Old Trafford three days later and beat United again, this time in the third round of the Milk Cup.
A 3–0 win over Leicester City saw Everton go top of the league and further victories over West Ham United and Stoke City cemented their position. However, a shock home defeat by Grimsby Town in the Milk Cup triggered a dip in form that saw Everton win only once in six matches and a 4–3 defeat by Chelsea at Goodison just before Christmas saw them surrender the leadership to Tottenham.
Thereafter, Everton were virtually unstoppable. A 2–1 win at Sunderland on Boxing Day began an unbeaten run of 28 matches which saw them collect 50 out of a possible 54 league points and reach two cup finals along the way. They reclaimed top spot in January by beating Newcastle 4–0 and victory at Tottenham at the start of April opened up a four-point lead with games in hand on their closest challengers. A 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers on 4 May secured the title with five league matches still to play.
The Cup Winners' Cup campaign began with a surprisingly tight aggregate win over University College Dublin but Everton breezed past Inter Bratislava and Fortuna Sittard to set up a semi-final against Bayern Munich. After a goalless first leg in West Germany, they fell behind to a Dieter Hoeness goal at Goodison but roared back to reach the final thanks to goals from Sharp, Gray and Steven. Rapid Vienna were no match in Rotterdam's Feyenoord Stadium and goals from Gray, Steven and Sheedy clinched Everton's first ever European trophy.
In the FA Cup, Everton beat Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers and non-league Telford United without too much difficulty but needed a late Mountfield equaliser in the quarter-final to take Ipswich Town to a replay which they won courtesy of a Sharp penalty. In the semi-final against Luton Town, they were again trailing with time running out when Sheedy equalised with a free kick, and Mountfield headed the winner near the end of extra time.
Ultimately, the final against Manchester United - played just three days after the Cup Winners' Cup final - proved a match too far and Everton went down to a single Norman Whiteside goal in extra time. It could not take the shine off what is regarded by many as the greatest season ever in the history of the club.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
In
- Paul Bracewell - Sunderland, £425,000, May 1984
- Pat Van Den Hauwe - Birmingham City, £100,000, September 1984
- Ian Atkins - Sunderland, £100,000, November 1984
- Paul Wilkinson - Grimsby Town, £250,000, March 1985
Out
- Mark Higgins - retired, May 1984
- Ian Bishop - Carlisle United, October 1984
- Alan Irvine - Crystal Palace, October 1984
- Andy King - Wolverhampton Wanderers, January 1985
- Ian Macowat - Gillingham, January 1985
- Stuart Rimmer - Chester City, January 1985
Results
Charity Shield
Canon League Division One
| 25 August 1984 1 | Everton | 1–4 | Tottenham Hotspur | Liverpool |
Heath  16' (pen.) |
Falco 39' Allen 41', 55'Chiedozie 51' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 35,630 |
| 27 August 1984 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–1 | Everton | West Bromwich |
| Hunt 57' Thompson 80' |
Heath 89' (pen.) |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 13,464 |
| 31 August 1984 3 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Everton | London |
| Richardson 57' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,734 |
| 4 September 1984 4 | Everton | 1–1 | Ipswich Town | Liverpool |
| Heath 78' |
Gates 64' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 22,314 |
| 8 September 1984 5 | Everton | 2–1 | Coventry City | Liverpool |
| Steven 72' Sharp 81' |
Gibson 35' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 20,013 |
| 15 September 1984 6 | Newcastle United | 2–3 | Everton | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Beardsley 12' (pen.) Wharton 46' |
Sheedy 25' Steven 52'Gray 88' |
Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 26,944 |
| 22 September 1984 7 | Everton | 2–2 | Southampton | Liverpool |
| Mountfield 5' Sharp 9' |
Moran 39', 54' (pen.) |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 22,354 |
| 29 September 1984 8 | Watford | 4–5 | Everton | Watford |
| Reilly 15' Mountfield 55' (o.g.)Callaghan 70'Barnes 87' |
Steven 33' Heath 34', 45'Mountfield 61'Sharp 72' |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 18,335 |
| 13 October 1984 10 | Everton | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
| Sharp 26' Heath 74' |
Withe 43' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 25,089 |
| 27 October 1984 12 | Everton | 5–0 | Manchester United | Liverpool |
| Sheedy 5', 24' Heath 35' Stevens 81' Sharp 86' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 40,742 |
| 3 November 1984 13 | Everton | 3–0 | Leicester City | Liverpool |
| Steven 55' Sheedy 59'Heath 80' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 27,784 |
| 10 November 1984 14 | West Ham United | 0–1 | Everton | London |
| Heath 78' |
Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 24,089 |
| 17 November 1984 15 | Everton | 4–0 | Stoke City | Liverpool |
| Heath 28', 34' Reid 69'Steven 73' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 26,705 |
| 24 November 1984 16 | Norwich City | 4–2 | Everton | Norwich |
| Deehan 15', 64' Gordon 17'Donowa 25' |
Sharp 27' Sheedy 50' |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 16,925 |
| 1 December 1984 17 | Everton | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Liverpool |
| Sharp 29' (pen.) |
Blair 8' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 35,440 |
| 8 December 1984 18 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–0 | Everton | London |
| Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 14,338 |
| 15 December 1984 19 | Everton | 5–0 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
| Sharp 20', 76' Sheedy 32'Steven 43'Reid 50' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 22,487 |
| 22 December 1984 20 | Everton | 3–4 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
| Bracewell 35' Sharp 69' (pen.), 88' (pen.) |
Davies 9', 40', 72' Pates 61' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 29,887 |
| 26 December 1984 21 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Everton | Sunderland |
| Proctor 66' |
Mountfield 12', 19' |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 19,714 |
| 29 December 1984 22 | Ipswich Town | 0–2 | Everton | Ipswich |
| Sharp 61', 86' |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 16,045 |
| 1 January 1985 23 | Everton | 2–1 | Luton Town | Liverpool |
| Steven 11', 69' |
Harford 80' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 31,682 |
| 12 January 1985 24 | Everton | 4–0 | Newcastle United | Liverpool |
| Sharp 17' Mountfield 32'Sheedy 62', 86' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 32,156 |
| 2 February 1985 25 | Everton | 4–0 | Watford | Liverpool |
| Stevens 56', 62' Sheedy 69'Steven 77' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 34,026 |
| 23 February 1985 26 | Leicester City | 1–2 | Everton | Leicester |
| Lynex 81' |
Gray 66', 82' |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 17,345 |
| 2 March 1985 27 | Manchester United | 1–1 | Everton | Manchester |
| Olsen 36' |
Mountfield 41' |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 51,150 |
| 16 March 1985 28 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Everton | Birmingham |
| Evans 83' (pen.) |
Richardson 42' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 22,625 |
| 23 March 1985 29 | Everton | 2–0 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Gray 27' Sharp 89' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 36,387 |
| 30 March 1985 30 | Southampton | 1–2 | Everton | Southampton |
| Jordan 90' |
Richardson 48', 51' |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 18,754 |
| 3 April 1985 31 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–2 | Everton | London |
| Roberts 73' |
Gray 9' Steven 62' |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 48,108 |
| 6 April 1985 32 | Everton | 4–1 | Sunderland | Liverpool |
| Gray 34', 37' Steven 50'Sharp 68' |
Wallace 1' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 35,978 |
| 16 April 1985 33 | Everton | 4–1 | West Bromwich Albion | Liverpool |
| Atkins 3' Sharp 26', 78' (pen.)Sheedy 54' |
Grealish 66' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 29,750 |
| 20 April 1985 34 | Stoke City | 0–2 | Everton | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Sharp 23' Sheedy 46' |
Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 18,258 |
| 27 April 1985 35 | Everton | 3–0 | Norwich City | Liverpool |
| Mountfield 42' Steven 48'Bracewell 56' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 32,085 |
| 4 May 1985 36 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0–1 | Everton | Sheffield |
| Gray 26' |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 37,381 |
| 6 May 1985 37 | Everton | 2–0 | Queens Park Rangers | Liverpool |
| Mountfield 24' Sharp 82' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 50,514 |
| 8 May 1985 38 | Everton | 3–0 | West Ham United | Liverpool |
| Gray 12' Mountfield 43', 78' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 32,657 |
| 11 May 1985 39 | Nottingham Forest | 1–0 | Everton | Nottingham |
| Birtles 10' |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 18,784 |
| 23 May 1985 40 | Everton | 1–0 | Liverpool | Everton |
| Wilkinson 67' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 51,045 |
| 26 May 1985 41 | Coventry City | 4–1 | Everton | Coventry |
| Regis 4', 47' Adams 17'Gibson 78' |
Wilkinson 42' |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 21,224 |
| 28 May 1985 42 | Luton Town | 2–0 | Everton | Luton |
| Nwajiobi 3' Hill 39' |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 11,509 |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everton | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 88 | 43 | +45 | 90 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 35 | +33 | 77 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 78 | 51 | +27 | 77 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
European Cup Winners' Cup
| 19 September 1984 1st Round 1st Leg | University College Dublin | 0–0 | Everton | Dublin |
| Stadium: Tolka Park Attendance: 9750 |
| 3 October 1984 1st Round 2nd Leg | Everton | 1–0 | University College Dublin | Liverpool |
| Sharp 10' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 16,277 |
| 24 October 1984 2nd Round 1st Leg | Inter Bratislava | 0–1 | Everton | Bratislava |
| Bracewell 6' |
Stadium: Štadión Pasienky Attendance: 15,000 |
| 7 November 1984 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Everton | 3–0 | Inter Bratislava | Liverpool |
| Sharp 12' Sheedy 43'Heath 63' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 25,007 |
| 6 March 1985 Quarter-Final 1st Leg | Everton | 3–0 | Fortuna Sittard | Liverpool |
| Gray 47', 74', 77' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 25,782 |
| 20 March 1985 Quarter-Final 2nd Leg | Fortuna Sittard | 0–2 | Everton | Sittard |
| Sharp 15' Reid 75' |
Stadium: De Baandert Attendance: 16,425 |
| 10 April 1985 Semi-Final 1st Leg | Bayern Munich | 0–0 | Everton | Munich |
| Stadium: Olympiastadion Attendance: 67,000 |
| 24 April 1985 Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Everton | 3–1 | Bayern Munich | Liverpool |
| Sharp 48' Gray 75'Steven 86' |
Hoeness 37' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 49,476 |
| 15 May 1985 Final | Everton | 3–1 | Rapid Vienna | Rotterdam |
| Gray 57' Steven 72'Sheedy 86' |
Krankl 85' |
Stadium: Stadion Feijenoord Attendance: 40,000 |
Milk Cup
| 26 September 1984 2nd Round 1st Leg | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Everton | Sheffield |
| Morris 43' (pen.) Edwards 70' |
Sharp 69' Mountfield 78' |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 28,383 |
| 10 October 1984 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Everton | 4–0 | Sheffield United | Liverpool |
| Mountfield 6' Bracewell 56'Sharp 67'Heath 74' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 18,740 |
| 30 October 1984 3rd Round | Manchester United | 1–2 | Everton | Manchester |
| Brazil 23' |
Sharp 42' (pen.) Gidman 84' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 50,918 |
| 20 November 1984 4th Round | Everton | 0–1 | Grimsby Town | Liverpool |
| Wilkinson 90' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 26,298 |
FA Cup
| 4 January 1985 3rd Round | Leeds United | 0–2 | Everton | Leeds |
| Sharp 40' (pen.) Sheedy 85' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 21,211 |
| 26 January 1985 4th Round | Everton | 2–0 | Doncaster Rovers | Liverpool |
| Steven 19' Stevens 33' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 37,537 |
| 16 February 1985 5th Round | Everton | 3–0 | Telford United | Liverpool |
| Reid 67' Sheedy 71' (pen.)Steven 87' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 47,402 |
| 9 March 1985 6th Round | Everton | 2–2 | Ipswich Town | Liverpool |
| Sheedy 5' Mountfield 85' |
Wilson 15' Zondervan 31' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 36,468 |
| 13 March 1985 6th Round Replay | Ipswich Town | 0–1 | Everton | Ipswich |
| Sharp 76' (pen.) |
Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 27,737 |
| 13 April 1985 Semi-Final | Everton | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Luton Town | Birmingham |
| Sheedy 86' Mountfield 115' |
Hill 37' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 45,289 |
References
| The club | |
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| Home Stadium |
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| Training Ground |
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| Miscellaneous | |
| Rivalries | |
| Affiliated Academies |
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| Affiliates |
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