Despite some barren years in the last three decades, Everton Football Club is one of the most historic in the English game. The Toffees were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888, so they have a historic place in football in England.
When was Everton last relegated from the Premier League?
Although there have been some close scrapes with relegation to the Championship since the rebranding of the English top flight in 1992, Everton has never been relegated from the Premier League.
In fact, in the history of English football, the men from Merseyside have spent only four years outside the top division since the foundation of the Football League, which were seasons 1930–31, 1951–52, 1952–53, and 1953–54.
No club has played in the English top flight in more campaigns than Everton. Only Arsenal have spent more consecutive seasons in the English top flight.
When was Everton relegated from the top flight?
You have to go all the way back to season 1950-51 for the last time the Toffees were demoted to the second tier of English football. It was just one of the two occasions that Everton suffered the ignominy of suffering relegation to the Second Division.
The first time Everton ever went down was in the 1929-30 season. The team suffered relegation despite club legend William Ralph ‘Dixie’ Dean scoring 23 goals in 25 appearances.
The club were not in the second tier long, though, as Dean hammered home 39 goals in 37 appearances to help the men from Merseyside back to the English top flight.
Everton spent longer in the second tier on the second occasion. This time around, they spent three seasons in the Second Division before winning promotion by finishing second place in the second-tier table.
Everton has maintained their top-flight status since, with only Evertonians of a good vintage able to remember the team plying their trade in the second tier.
The first close call in 1994
After the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1984 saw English teams banned from European competition, Everton’s title-winning teams of 1985 and 1987 split up, leading to a period of mediocrity for the Toffees that has never really ended.
However, the nadir came in 1994, as for the first time since their last relegation in the ’50s, the Toffees looked vulnerable to losing their position in the English top flight.
They headed into their final game of the season at Goodison Park against Wimbledon in the relegation zone, needing to better Bolton Wanderers’ result at Chelsea.
Things started badly for the Toffees, as they were two goals down in the first 20 minutes, courtesy of a goal from Dean Holdsworth and an own goal from Gary Ablett.
The men from Merseyside were staring down the barrel of life in the second tier of English football. However, a Graham Stuart penalty gave them hope on 24 minutes. A brilliant long-drive effort from Welsh international Barry Horne on 67 minutes levelled the scores.
With just nine minutes remaining on the clock, the Toffees scored that crucial goal, as Stuart fired home his second goal of the game. The goal proved definitive, as Bolton failed to beat Chelsea. There was a release of sheer joy at the end of the game against the Dons for achieving survival.
Back in the relegation fight in 1998
Unfortunately for everybody associated with the club, the team were back in a similar situation on the last day of season 1997/98.
This time, the Toffees drew 1-1 at home against Coventry City, courtesy of a goal from Irish midfielder Gareth Farrelly. The draw saw Everton finish 17th place, only above Bolton Wanderers on goal difference to avoid relegation.
Another two-goal comeback
The Toffees were in trouble again in season 2021/22 when they went into their penultimate game of the Premier League season at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace needing a win.
Just like in 1994, the Toffees went two goals down in the first half. The fans attempted to rally the team, and in an incredible second half, the Toffees scored three goals.
Centre-back Michael Keane gave the team a lifeline before Brazilian star Richarlison equalised with just 15 minutes remaining on the clock. With time running out, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home a Demarai Gray free-kick to send Goodison into raptures.
The win was met with a big sigh of relief from a packed house at Goodison Park and another pitch invasion from the fans.
A nervy last day in season 2022/23
The Toffees came into the last day of the 2022/23 season at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, needing to better Leicester’s result against West Ham.
The Foxes won 2-1 against the Hammers, but Everton didn’t find the breakthrough until the 57th minute. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s superb long-range strike soothed the nerves at Goodison Park and gave the Toffees the victory they needed to stave off the threat of relegation for a second straight season.
At the final whistle, there was more relief than happiness, as everybody of an Everton persuasion hoped that brighter times were ahead for the once-great club after two woeful Premier League campaigns.