Fred Geary - 1889 to 1894:

Fred Geary was to be first in a long line great Everton centre forwards, signed in 1889 from Notts County he was to lead Everton to their first league title 1890-91. He scored two goals on his debut in the 1889-90 season and on 4th November scored the clubs first hatrick against Stoke City, he ending the season with twenty one goals in just eighteen games. Geary soon established himself as one of the finest goal scorers of the time and was rewarded with two England caps.

In his time with Everton Fred Geary won a League Championship medal and also had the distinction of bring the first Everton player to score at Goodison Park, an equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. In 1894 Geary became the first player to cross the park when he signed for Liverpool for £60

Everton playing record :

League appearances 91, goals 78

FA Cup appearances 7, goals 8

Alex Latta - 1889 to 1895:

Signed from Dumbarton in 1889 outside right Alex Latta was to become one of the great entertainers of his time. He was both fast and skilful and quickly became a favourite with the fans. He was a member of the league championship side in 1891 and also played in the club's first FA Cup final in1893. He was capped twice by England and 1895 signed for Liverpool but never made a senior appearance. He retired from football shortly after this move and worked in the boat building business until his death in August 1928.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 136, goals 69

FA Cup appearances 12, goals 1

John 'Jack' Bell - 1892 to 1898 and 1901 to 1903:

Like Alex Latta, John Bell was signed from Dumbarton he was an outstanding outside left who played in the losing FA Cup final of 1987. His display in the final earned him the man of the match award and despite the team losing 3-2 to aston Villa, Bell had the distinction of being Everton's first ever Cup Final goal scorer.

He moved to Spurs in 1898 before returning to Everton in 1901 after short spells with Celtic and New Brighton Tower. He left Everton after two more seasons and joined Preston North End were, in 1909 he became their first manager/coach.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 177, goals 62

FA Cup appearances 22, goals 8

Dickie Boyle - 1892 to 1900:

Yet another signing from Dumbarton, Dickie Boyle was a stylish right half and despite only being five foot five and half inches tall he was not only strong in the tackle but also liked to get forward and possessed a hard shot. One of the most reliable and regular performers he quickly established himself as a fan's favourite and soon became team captain.

Dickie Boyle was to play in both losing finals in the 1890's and scored Everton's second goal in the 1897 final direct from a free kick. He left Everton in 1900 to return to Scotland and signed for Dundee

Everton playing record :

League appearances 222, goals 7

FA Cup appearances 21, goals 1

Jack Southworth - 1893 to 1894:

Christened the 'Prince of Dribblers', Everton were to enjoy the skills of Jack Southworth for just over one season. Signed from Blackburn Rovers, for the considerable sum for the time of £440, Southworth made an immediate impact.

In his only full season he scored twenty seven goals in just twenty two games, this included ten in two games over the Christmas period. Of these ten goals, six were scored in one game and still stands as an Everton record. The next season he started off like he finished the previous with nine goals in nine games before a serious leg injury forced him to retire from the game.

His skills however were not confined to the football field, Jack Southworth was an accomplished musician and pursued a career as a professional violinist with Halle Orchestra in Manchester.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 32, goals 36

FA Cup appearances 1, goals

Jack Taylor - 1896 to 1910:

Signed from St. Mirren in 1896 Jack Taylor was to become the first Everton captain to lift the FA Cup. He served the club with distinction for thirteen years and became one of the great centre halves of the era. To go along with his FA Cup winners medal from 1906, Taylor was also to collect two runners-up medals in 1897 and 1907.

Jack Taylor was the first player to play four hundred games for the club and the only player to play more than one hundred consecutive games. He accomplished this fete by playing 122 games without a break from his debut on 5th September 1896.

His career was all but over when he sustained an injury in the FA Cup semi final defeat be Barnsley in 1910, he did join South Liverpool for a time and remained on Merseyside following his retirement. He died in 1949, aged 77, following a road accident.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 400, goals 66

FA Cup appearances 56, goals 14

Jimmy Settle - 1899 to 1908:

Jimmy Settle joined Everton from Bury in 1899 and was noted as a classy inside-forward with the ability to create chances for others with his vision and defence splitting passes. He was not prolific scorer himself but regularly contributed with his share of goals and actually topped the leagues goal scorers in the 1891-02 season with eighteen goals.

In his time at the club he helped them to two league runners up places and two FA Cup finals, being a member of the winning side of 1906 and the runners up in 1907. Settle is one of those players that has never been overly mentioned in club histories nor any Hall of Fame but he made a significant contribution to the early development of Everton during his time with the club, as his personal record shows.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 237 goals 84

FA Cup appearances 32, goals 13

Walter Abbott - 1899 to 1908:

Walter Abbott joined Everton originally as an inside right from Small Heath but it soon became clear that he was not going to make the grade as a forward. However, Abbott was to establish himself as a half-back and from this new position he rediscovered his goal scoring touch.

During his nine seasons with Everton Abbott would play in two FA Cup finals, helping the the team to win one and to be on the losing side in the other. During his time the team would also appear in on other FA Cup semi final and finish runners up in the league on two occasions.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 257 goals 32

FA Cup appearances 35, goals 5

Jack Sharp - 1899 to 1909:

Jack Sharp was one those rare breed of sportsmen in that he represented his country at both football and cricket.

Sharp was a goal scoring outside right whose outstanding wing play earned him two England caps. Signed from Aston Villa in 1899, he was a short, stocky man who possessed lightning pace and the ability to put over pinpoint crosses to the forwards of the day.

During his time with Everton, Jack Sharp was part of the Everton side that was victorious FA Cup winning side of 1906, putting over the cross that Young scored from. He also received a runners up medal the FA Cup final defeat in 1907 and was part of the team that finished runners up in the league on three occasions. along with his two England caps he would make three appearances for the Football League team.

He retired from football in 1910 but his association with Everton did not end there and in 1923 he joined the board of directors.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 300 goals 68

FA Cup appearances 42, goals 12

On his cricket career, he qualified for Lancashire when he moved to Everton and was to captain them between 1923 and 1925. He scored over 1,000 on ten occasions and in 1901 exceeded 100 wickets, during his career he scored 22,715 runs which included 38 centuries.

William Balmer - 1897 to 1908:

Born locally, William Balmer signed for Everton from South Shore, Blackpool, in 1897. He was a tough tackling full-back who could play on either side of the pitch with equal assurance. and on many occasions partnered his brother, Robert, in the Everton defence.

Balmer got his chance in the team when he replaced Peter Meehan, a highly paid import from Scotland, started his Everton career poorly. Blamer was drafted in and never looked back and became a regular in the side from the next season, 1898-99. As his Everton career was drawing to a close he made two FA Cup final appearances, picking up a winners medal in 1906 and being a runner up in 1907. Balmer also played once for England when he was picked to play against Ireland on 25th February 1905.

William Balmer left Everton in 1908 when he joined Croydon Common of the Southern League.

Everton playing record :

League appearances 293, goals 1

FA Cup appearances 38, goals 0