Everton Football Club, a proud and historic mainstay of English Football’s top division is on the verge of chalking up a very impressive milestone.
A beacon of tradition and middle-of-the-road achievement – known affectionately as ‘the People’s Club’ – Everton has spent more time in the highest tier competition than any other English club, playing top-flight football since 1954.
But in the cash-fuelled, excitement driven world of the re-formed English Premier League since 1992, consistency has been harder than ever to achieve.
No fewer than 45 clubs have competed in the 20-team competition, which tells the story of how many have tried and failed for a lasting presence.
Retaining a position in the coveted Premier League carries an enormous financial incentive from television rights, resulting in an ultra-competitive environment in which managers are rapidly hired and fired in the search for success.
Just look at Andre-Villas Boas, the last one through Chelsea’s revolving managerial door.
Indeed, the average working life span of a manager at any Premier League team is less than four seasons. Only three of the twenty current managers have lasted over six years, with Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal dragging that average up considerably, serving remarkable terms of 25 years and 15 years respectably.
But the third longest lasting boss is the less heralded Scotsman David Moyes of Everton, who – on March 15 – will bring up 10 years at the helm.
Since 2002 Moyes has done exceptionally well at Everton, providing them with stability and adding to the squad with shrewd player purchases as he strives to improve the side on a limited budget.
Seven seasons out of ten he has finished in the top half of the Premier League, whilst he has qualified the team for European competition (by placing top six) four times, plus made it to an FA Cup final.
In the old English First Division, such a run might have been deemed average. But in the high stakes and high scrutiny Premier League era, with restricted finances, it is quite exceptional.
For the vast majority of his Everton reign, David Moyes has had the services of Australian icon Tim Cahill at his side.
After being transferred to Everton for a bargain £1.5 million pounds in 2004, Cahill was the club’s top scorer in his first season. He has since achieved this twice more, an astounding feat for a player not considered to be a true striker, but more of an attacking midfielder.
As well as his goal scoring record, Cahill’s playing characteristics and work ethic have endeared him to the Everton fans and typified the way that Everton, a perennial underdog, has challenged the more glamorous and wealthy clubs in the league.
Cahill has carved out a reputation in England for qualities that set him apart from the rest. As an attacking player he can dribble, pass and shoot on par with the average midfielder or centre-forward.
But he scores the majority of his goals from headers. At 5’10 that would seem unusual, but Cahill has an explosiveness in his jump that regularly sees him soar over much bigger defenders. Add to that positional nous which constantly puts him in the right place at the right time, sharp reactions and pure unbridled will to attack the ball. These are the makings of a predator in front of goal.
Cahill combines these facets of his game with a ferocious work rate, determination and grit. These are also fundamental parts of David Moyes’s coaching ethos and the fabric he has woven at Everton.
The club is enduring a typically tough 2011-12 campaign, striving to pull away from the gridlock of the mid-table. This has been paralleled by Cahill’s goal drought; he went a year without scoring before his goal against Blackburn in late January.
But the track record tells you that sure enough, Moyes will push Everton to climb the table by season’s end, and Cahill will come through with the goals to aid this.
After beating Tottenham at Goodison Park the other night they’ve jumped to ninth, and recent form is good with wins over Manchester City and Chelsea.
The Toffees have certainly got staying power, having gradually improved their league results and reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
Who knows? It might be the season of another fantastic cup run.
Next up however is a Merseyside derby, where they face a stumbling Liverpool at Anfield. It’s fitting that two days before David Moyes’ 10-year-anniversary, Everton could leapfrog their local rivals on the Premier League table.
They may not win trophies or write headlines, but they’re a great football club.
And with continued common sense by Everton’s board and the steadfast support of the fans, hopefully the club can honor Moyes’ 10 years so far – an outstanding fulfillment – knowing that he has many more to come.
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