On This Day in Everton History: September 4th

In this latest installment of On This Day, we take a look at how this date shaped Everton history as we know it, and it’s not really a significant day. In the past this date is well past transfer deadline day so there’s been no major transfers. The first week of September has also been a popular time for international breaks, just like this weekend is, and there’s not too many big games for the Blues. In fact, the last time the Toffees played on this date was back in 1996, with Everton losing at home to Aston Villa, so let’s not talk about that.

1984 - A 1-1 draw at home against Ipswich

At first glance this might not seem like a remarkable result, but the year should tell you something about this season. The first game of the campaign started with a Merseyside Derby Charity Shield win over Liverpool at Wembley, but the League season could not start more disastrously, with two losses on the opening weekend, 4-1 at home against Tottenham Hotspur and then 2-1 away at West Bromwich Albion.

However, they pulled off a win away at Chelsea to close out August and while it was looking like things were turning around, the Blues went behind at home to Ipswich with less than half an hour to play and they were staring at defeat. But not for the first time in his Everton career, Adrian Heath popped up with the equalizer that saved the day and kickstarted the season again. Two further away wins at Newcastle and Watford FC got things into gear, and as we all remember, Everton would go on to win the league at a canter, thirteen points ahead of Liverpool, and then the club’s single greatest continental triumph, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup.