Everton FC Started as a Church Football Team

When you think of Everton FC, you probably picture Goodison Park, the Premier League, and passionate Merseyside football. But the club's origins tell a remarkably different story - one that begins in a Methodist church.

In 1878, members of the St. Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel in Breckfield Road North wanted to stay active year-round, not just during cricket season. So they formed a football team and named it after their place of worship: St. Domingo's FC.

Why "St. Domingo"?

The chapel itself had an intriguing backstory. The name "St. Domingo" came from a local landowner named George Campbell, who struck it rich when one of his ships captured a valuable vessel from the island of St. Domingo in the West Indies. He commemorated his fortune by naming his estate after the Caribbean island, which led to streets called St. Domingo Vale and St. Domingo Grove. The chapel built between those streets naturally took the same name.

From Chapel Team to Football Club

The church team quickly became popular beyond the congregation. In November 1879, just a year after formation, the club held a meeting at the Queen's Head Hotel and made a crucial decision: they needed a more inclusive name.

Why the change? Many players and supporters weren't members of the chapel, and the religious name was limiting the club's growth. They chose "Everton" after the district where they played, opening the doors to anyone who wanted to join.

A Methodist Beginning

It's remarkable that one of England's most historic football clubs - a founding member of the Football League in 1888 - started as a church sports team. The transformation from St. Domingo's FC to Everton FC happened in just over a year, but it set the stage for over 140 years of footballing history.

Today, few Everton supporters realize their club's name is younger than the club itself, or that it all started with a group of Methodists looking for something to do when cricket season ended.