Everton’s first League game took place at Anfield on the 8th September 1888, with the visitors being Accrington. The team representing Everton for this historic fixture fell to:

R.H. Smalley; N. Ross, A. Dick; G. Dobson, J. Holt, B. Jones; G. Farmer, E. Chadwick, W. Lewis, D. Waugh, G. Fleming.

The first half was an even affair with no side gaining the upper hand and ending 0-0. When the second half started Everton took control and the honour of scoring the club’s first League goal went to G. Fleming when he headed Everton into the lead. He added a second goal and Everton went onto win the game 2-1 and the 10,000 people who had turned up to witness the birth of league football, went home happy.