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As part of our Everton Classic Game Rewind, the entire site coverage is taking you back to the fateful weekend of 19th-21st May, 1995 (more details here). Here’s the stats recap from the epic win in that FA Cup Final.
The Blues have done it!
Our seemingly everlasting eight-year wait for a trophy has finally come to an end thanks to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup Final.
So, it’s official: Everton are winners again!
But what did the numbers tell us?
Royle-ty
New boss ends season with 50% win rate
It’s been a tough start to the Premier League era for the Blues and after last season’s great escape and a woeful start to the season under Mike Walker, Everton have finally flourished under Joe Royle.
Everton won just one game out of a possible 16 under Walker, but Royle has worked a miracle since returning to Goodison Park, winning exactly half of his 34 games in charge – culminating in prized silverware at Wembley.
Rideout to the Rescue
Bags his 15th goal of the season
It’s been a breakthrough season for Paul Rideout and he couldn’t have finished it any finer fashion.
His poacher’s finish at Wembley was his 16th of the season – almost double the amount he achieved in his first two seasons at Goodison Park.
Duncan Ferguson was only fit enough to start on the bench at Wembley, but one would hope the Scottish striker – signed for a mammoth £4 million in November – will go on to form a lethal partnership as the Blues look to return to title contention next season. And let’s face it, if Blackburn can do it, surely Everton can too.
Unsworth Blossoming
7 clean sheets from last 8
Young David Unsworth has grown immensely this season and he’s flourished under the watchful eye of Joe Royle and the perfect mentor in Dave Watson – who picked up the man of the match award - next to him.
Everton have looked rock-solid at the end of the season, keeping 7 clean sheets from their last 8 games.
Despite being just 21 years of age, the strong defender has featured in every league game this season and one would expect him to get an England call-up sooner or later.
A Team To Build Upon
5 players aged 24 or under
If this performance showed us anything, it’s that the future looks bright under Joe Royle.
This young team, flanked by the experience Dave Watson, Neville Southall and Anders Limpar, saw five players aged 24 and under starting the game: David Unsworth, Gary Ablett, Barry Horne, Matt Jackson and Barry Horne – with even more fresh legs joining them from the bench in Duncan Ferguson and Daniel Amokachi.
If Everton can keep this youthful spine together, exciting times await.
8 More Years? Never Again…
Everton finally end long 8-year wait for trophy
No one can argue that Blues’ fans aren’t patient. It’s felt like an eternity since Everton last lifted a major trophy – the 1987 league title – but silverware will finally return to Goodison Park.
And with rumours of a new stadium on the horizon, plus with a squad bristling with young talent like David Unsworth, Duncan Ferguson and Joe Parkinson, Everton will surely be back challenging for domestic and European honours on a regular basis in the coming years with a bright young manager in Joe Royle at the helm.
COYB!