On This Day in Everton History: August 25th

In our latest ‘On This Day’ segment, we look back at two memorable victories for Everton on August 25, as well as one more forgettable day as a new manager’s reign got underway:

1973 - Bingham’s reign begins with Leeds defeat

Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

An Everton alumnus returned in the summer of 1973, as former Blues player Billy Bingham replaced Harry Catterick in the Goodison Park hot seat.

With no new signings, the former manager of the Greek national team presided over an indifferent start to the season, with just two wins from the opening eight league games.

The first of those was a 3-1 defeat to the eventual champions, Don Revie’s Leeds United, at Elland Road, on August 25, 1973. Leeds raced into a three-goal lead thanks to strikes from Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles and Mick Jones, with Joe Harper’s long-range effort proving scant consolation for Everton in Bingham’s baptism of fire.

1992 - Villa beaten in first Premier League home victory

For those of the belief that football started in 1992 with the Premier League’s inception, perhaps this victory could be regarded as Everton’s first home win.

Indeed, Howard Kendall’s men overcame Aston Villa at Goodison Park 1-0 thanks to Mo Johnston, who sealed off a devastating Everton break to fire home an 88th-minute winner and secure the Blues’ first Premier League victory at the Grand Old Lady.

Having drawn two and won one (a 3-0 triumph at Manchester United) of their three previous league games, this fourth outing saw Kendall’s Blues shoot up to second in the embryonic league table; a far cry from the sluggish start of the last season, which saw Everton 19th with just one win after eight matches.

2012 - Moyes’ boys go top as Villa seen off again

And another three points over Villa arrived exactly 20 years later, when David Moyes’ Everton built on their 1-0 opening-day home win over champions Manchester United with an easy 3-1 victory at Villa Park.

The Blues were ahead inside three minutes as Steven Pienaar curled home a stunner, before Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic added to their tally before even half-time arrived.

A Karim El Ahmadi consolation strike was the only blot on the day, as Everton stayed joint-top and extended their run of Premier League games without defeat to 11 matches, stretching back to the end of the 2011-12 campaign.