On This Day In Everton History: April 25th

April 25 is another pretty forgettable day for Everton results-wise - the Blues have won just four of their 20 meetings on this date.

Here, we’ll look back at some of the better memories that arrived with three of those victories. Let’s go:

1936 - Dixie bags hat-trick as Blues move clear of the drop

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The 1935-36 campaign was far from Dixie Dean’s most prolific in an Everton shirt; he netted 17 goals which, by his exceptionally high standards, ranked as one of his worst seasons while at Goodison Park. Though, it was an injury-plagued year for Dean, who by then had probably passed his prime as a goal scorer.

Indeed, this wasn’t a great year for Everton, either; the Blues conceded 89 goals in their 42 league games and won just once on the road, meaning that they began their penultimate game at home to Birmingham in 20th, just one place above the relegation zone.

Thankfully, Dean rediscovered his best form right on time, netting a hat trick in a vital 4-3 win over Brum. He gave Everton the lead after eight minutes, but just three minutes later they found themselves behind. Dean would equalise, only for Don Dearson to send the visitors in 3-2 up at half-time.

Everton would turn it around in the second period, though; first through another Dean leveller, and then through Jimmy Cunliffe’s winner, lifting the Blues to 18th and easing those relegation fears ahead of the final-day visit of Preston.

1964 - Pickering at the double as Catterick’s men climb to third

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A far better campaign for Everton was the 1963-64 season, though not quite as good as its predecessor, which saw the Blues crowned First Division champions for the first time in the Harry Catterick era.

The title would stay in Merseyside the following year, but would just cross Stanley Park to Liverpool instead. Everton did rise a place to finish a respectable third on the final day, though, thanks to a brace from Fred Pickering in a 2-0 home win over mid-table West Ham.

But Catterick will no doubt regret a shoddy end to the campaign which saw Everton win just one of their last five league games, and in doing so be knocked off top spot.

2010 - Late Arteta penalty downs Fulham at Goodison again

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To this day, Fulham remain winless at Goodison Park. In fact, since their most recent defeat at the Old Lady, that 3-0 loss in September 2018, their record reads: played 27, drawn four, lost 23. And the last 22 of those visits have all been defeats.

But they came closest to bucking that trend in April 2010, in a trip to Goodison sandwiched in-between the two legs of their Europa League semi-final with Hamburg. A careless Leighton Baines back-pass set up Erik Nevland, who made no mistake, giving Fulham the lead at the whistle.

And though a Chris Smalling own goal gave Everton an equaliser early in the second half, it looked like Fulham’s wretched Goodison run was set to end, only for Chris Baird to foul Tim Cahill in the box in the 94th minute before Mikel Arteta duly thumped home the resulting penalty.

It kept Everton in the hunt for a Europa League place and marked the second game in a row they had won with an injury-time goal, after the late 3-2 win at Blackburn the previous weekend.