Everton were founder members of the Football League way back in 1888, having themselves been founded in 1878. They were also founder members of the Premier League and whilst they have never been relegated from the PL, they have certainly enjoyed some poor seasons and some narrow escapes from relegation. But what are the worst ever campaigns from their long – approaching 150 years – history?
No side has played more top-flight seasons than the Toffees, whilst only Arsenal can top them in terms of the most consecutive campaigns since their last relegation. They have very, very rarely played outside the upper echelons of the English game. In fact, they have been in the top tier for a hugely impressive 121 out of a possible 125 seasons (including 2023/24), only spending four seasons lower than that and never playing beneath what we currently call the Championship.
1952/53 – Worst Ever Finish, Statistically Worst Season Ever
There are different ways to define what constitutes a “worst ever” season but perhaps the most obvious and logical is to consider the time the Toffees finished lowest down the English football pyramid. And that, as any Evertonian with a good memory and plenty of miles on the clock can tell you, came in 1952/53.
They had been relegated following the 1950/51 campaign (see below) and finished seventh in their first season in the Second Division (it was their second season outside the top flight overall after they claimed the Second Division title in 1930/31). But after that decent attempt to gain instant promotion, they slumped badly, ending 16th of 22 teams, only five points above Southampton, who were relegated in 21st.
The Toffees were decent enough at home and managed nine wins and eight draws at Goodison. However, on the road they accrued just 12 points, ending the season with 38 from 42 games, though it should be noted it was two points for a win at this time. They bounced back a year later and were promoted, remaining in the top flight ever since. However, in 1952/53, ending the campaign 38th in the English football pecking order remains Everton’s worst finish ever.
Everton’s Four Seasons in the Second Tier
Before we look at Everton’s worst campaigns in the top flight, let us briefly look at their other seasons outside of English football’s elite. After all, these are, statistically, the worst periods in their 145-year history.
- 1930/31 – 1st – Everton’s first experience of the second tier was short and sweet. They won 28 times to claim the title, Dixie Dean netting 48 times in all comps. Everton made it back-to-back titles by winning the First Division the following year with 45 league goals from the legendary Dean.
- 1951/52 – 7th – 17 wins from 42 games was a decent stab at earning promotion but in the end they were seven points adrift of Cardiff who went up as runners-up.
- 1952/53 – 16th – See above for more details on the league campaign but interestingly despite their low finish, the Blues made the FA Cup semis.
- 1953/54 – 2nd – Everton won almost half their games (20 out of 42) and lost just six times to be promoted and also made the 5th Round of the FA Cup. They finished level with Leicester on 56 points but the Foxes claimed the title on goal average (the forerunner to goal difference).
1929/30: First Relegation: Contender for Worst Season Ever
Some may consider relegation from the First Division worse than finishing 16th in the Second and such sentiment is perhaps understandable at a club like Everton that has only been relegated twice. One of the strangest things about this campaign was that it came during one of the club’s golden eras – they won the First Division title in 1928 and 1932, the FA Cup in 1933 and the Charity Shield in 1929 and 1933.
They also had the unparalleled firepower of Dixie Dean but even his 23 league goals couldn’t stop the Toffees finishing down in 22nd. They lost 19 times, drawing 11 to end with just 35 points and a goal difference of -12. They finished bottom of the table, a point behind Burnley who were relegated on goal average after finishing level on 36 with Sheffield United.
1950/51: Lightning Strikes Again as Toffees Demoted
In what might be worrying signs for modern Everton, the club flirted with relegation in 1949 and 1950, twice finishing 18th. They succumbed in 1951, dropping four places, right to the foot of the table. In what was a very tight campaign, three clubs actually finished with identical records: won 12, drawn eight, and lost 22.
However, thanks to their goal average, it was Everton who finished bottom and Chelsea who survived. Sheffield Wednesday were sandwiched between the two Blues and destined to join the Toffees in the second tier. Everton had got the better of Chelsea in February but on the final day of the season a terrible 6-0 battering by relegation rivals Wednesday sealed their fate, though was not quite enough for the Owls.
Everton’s Worst Season in the Premier League
Everton helped found the Premier League in 1992 and have been ever-present. However, in three decades of the shiny new league, last season, 2022/23, was their worst ever performance. The Toffees finished 17th and whilst they have plumbed those depths previously, 36 points was their lowest ever tally and worst points-per-games record too (the PL has not always had 20 clubs).
In the end they were two points clear of 18th-placed Leicester and five ahead of Leeds but for a long time they looked doomed. They scored just 34 goals and only won eight matches, Frank Lampard leaving them in dire straits after a woeful run either side of Christmas (and the World Cup) where they took just two points from eight games. Under Sean Dyche they did far better and eight points from their last five games, their only loss coming to Man City, saw them safe. Just. For now.
Everton’s Near Misses in the Premier League
2022/23 was certainly not the only time that Everton came close to losing their status as Premier League ever-presents. They have been involved in a number of relegation battles but the following were especially tense.
- 1993/94 – 17th – Everton were 17th in the end, theoretically well clear in a 22-team PL. However, on the last day the Toffees were 2-0 down and needing a win, plus other results to go their way. They came back to beat Wimbledon 3-2 and survived, narrowly, in the most incredible fashion possible.
- 1997/98 – 17th – Four years later 17th was just one spot above the drop and Everton survived on goal difference alone, ahead of Bolton. After 16 games they were bottom and remained 19th until the 21st game of the season. They drew 1-1 on the final day against Coventry but when Bolton lost to Chelsea their PL status was confirmed for another season.
- 2021/22 – 16th – The Toffees finished 16th and stayed up with a game to spare but they needed a minor miracle to do so. In their penultimate game they trailed Palace 2-0 with 36 minutes left. They came back to win 3-2 amid jubilant scenes at Goodison and the win was vital as they lost their last game 5-1 at Arsenal.
- 2022/23 – 17th – With just 36 points this was the club’s worst season ever and they managed a mere eight wins. Never in their 145-year history have they won that few games in a league season. This one went to the wire, with Everton, Leicester and Leeds in a last-day battle for one PL spot. The Toffees edged out Bournemouth 1-0 on home soil in an incredibly nervy finale that was all about relief rather than the jubilation of the past.