News Archive –May

Follow FA Cup Final on Live Forum

To celebrate the once iconic annual event that was the FA Cup Final, we're opening the Live Forum for any who want to follow along with a little biased Evertonian camaraderie.

• Live Forum

Tony McNamara passes aged 85

Ex-Everton player Tony McNamara, who played for the Blues for four years in the 1950s, has passed away after a long illness.

Henen set to sign permanently this summer

Everton are likely to exercise the option of signing young Belgian striker David Henen on a permanent basis according to his agent.

Elsewhere On The Web

Atsu joins Bournemouth on loan

Having bade farwell to Everton this week, Christian Atsu's next season-long loan will take him to the south coast after Bournemouth signed him from Chelsea for 2015-16.

Elsewhere On The Web

Andy King: Cultured Everton midfielder

The Independent's obituary for the former Blue who passed away aged 58 this week.

Elsewhere On The Web

A club crying out for leaders with vision

In the wake of the 20-year milestone of Everton's last trophy and Robert Elstone's recent programme notes regarding Walton Hall Park, Joe Jennings makes an impassioned plea for change at the top at Everton.

Elsewhere On The Web

Vital summer ahead for Everton

Matt Jones argues that the upcoming transfer window could be crucial if the club is to stave off long-term stagnation.

Mirallas talks of “broken promises”

Kevin Mirallas has made more revelations to the Belgian press about his Everton future, telling De Standaard that his relationship with Roberto Martinez has become “awkward” over what he feels were broken promises regarding his role in the team.

• 15 May: ''I never said I wanted to leave''
• /season/14-15/news/29814.html

Martinez thrilled with Besic's debut season

Roberto Martinez has revealed how impressed he has been with Muhamed Besic in his first season in English football as he begins to fulfill his “incredible potential.”

Lukaku finishes as joint-top scorer in Europa League

Everton's Belgian striker will share the Europa League golden boot with Red Bull Salzburg's Alan with eight goals each in this season's competition.

Defensive duo set for loan experience next season

Tyias Browning and Brendan Galloway are likely to be handed the chance of more regular first-team action by being farmed out on loan for time by Roberto Martinez.

Atsu signs off as his Goodison loan ends

Christian Atsu bade Evertonians farewell over Twitter today as he returns to parent club Chelsea, most likely for another loan spell elsewhere after a disappointing season with the Blues.

Derby hero Andy King dies aged 58

Everton's iconic midfielder, Andy King, who scored a classic winner in the Goodison derby of 1978 has died from a heart attack aged just 58.

• Prentice: Andy Is Our King. Always.
• http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/05/27/he-was-a-huge-character
• http://toffeeweb.com/season/14-15/comment/fan/30023.html

Report: Alcaraz to depart this summer

Antolin Alcaraz will not be offered a new contract by Everton and will leave the club as a free agent next month according to the Liverpool Echo.

Martinez admits pressure comes with the territory

The Everton manager says that he welcomes the pressure of trying to find a way to make Everton successful without the benefit of a the enormous transfer budgets of the big five clubs.

Poor start scuppered Everton's 2014-15 campaign

Roberto Martinez is hoping to use a summer free from the distractions and impact of a major international tournament to better prepare his Everton side for next season.

Europa League place goes to West Ham

Everton have missed out on qualification for Europe via the "back door" of the Fair Play League after West Ham United were awarded the Premier League's place.

Martinez focused on Pienaar's fitness

Roberto Martinez has provided fitness updates on a number of his "walking wounded" but admitted that getting Steven Pienaar fit over the pre-season is his number one focus.

Garbutt facing big decision over his future

The ball appears to be very much in Luke Garbutt's court as he decides on whether to extend his current Everton deal or move on to a fresh challenge elsewhere, with Swansea City and Bournemouth reportedly ready to offer him a contract.

Elsewhere On The Web

Listen: Everton fan sites interview with Roberto Martinez

Representatives of the main Everton independent websites sat down with Roberto Martinez for a 90-minute interview at Finch Farm last Friday.

Kone will get his chance to shine

Roberto Martinez has reiterated his desire to see Arouna Kone complete a full recovery from his serious knee injury and says that signing another striker is not among his targets this summer.

• Full audio of Martinez interview

Distin bids farewell after 6 years

Goodison Park got the opportunity to acknowledge Sylvain Distin's service to the club since his arrival in 2009 after the defender was given a late cameo in the defeat to Tottenham.

Not good enough, says Roberto

Roberto Martinez blamed a woeful first half display when Everton were second best in every department for their final day defeat by Spurs.

Everton serve up fitting finale to frustrating season

Everton ended a dismal season in apt fashion with a 1-0 defeat to a superior Tottenham side that ensures they finish in the bottom half of the table for the first time in a decade.

• Matchday updates and reaction
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29996.html

Elstone cautious over new stadium proposal

Everton CEO Robert Elstone says that patient progress is being made on a potential new ground but that the club must also ensure a move doesn't jeopardise the Blues' future.

• Column: Goodison Forever

ToffeeWeb Player of the Season

It was close – very close – but the voting in our Player of the Season poll produced another win for Phil Jagielka.

Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

Everton hope to sign off their disappointing 2014-15 season on another upbeat note as Tottenham Hotspur come to town on Sunday.

Elsewhere On The Web

Why have Everton gone 20 years without a trophy?

David Prentice charts Everton's fall and rise since the club's last piece of major silverware in 1995 and ponders why the club has failed to come anywhere close to winning anything apart from the 2009 Cup final.

Lennon grateful for successful Everton loan

Aaron Lennon says that he loved every moment at Everton from the time he arrived on loan from Tottenham at the start of February.

Jagielka named Player of the Season

Phil Jagielka was the big winner at Everton's end of season awards gala last night, taking home three awards including Player of the Season.

Everton officially unveil 2015-16 home kit

Following yesterday's preview with fourth-month-old Ethan Holman, the club have revealed the full home strip for next season.

Baby blue launches new home kit

Four-month-old Ethan Holman was selected by Umbro to preview the design for Everton's 2015-16 home strip ahead of the full unveiling tomorrow.

Elsewhere On The Web

20 years on, what’s gone wrong for the Toffees?

Fresh from dealing with the topic on The Blue Room on CityTalk, Matt Jones looks at Everton's current trophy drought on the 20th anniversary of the club's last major piece silverware.

Stones and Garbutt set for U21s call-up

Everton duo John Stones and Luke Garbutt have been included in the provisional England squad for this summer's Under-21 European Championships.

Mirallas: Blues are “designed” for Europe

Kevin Mirallas has his sights set on returning Everton to Europe where he believes the team would apply the lessons learned from this season's balancing act between domestic and Continental competition.

Elsewhere On The Web

The ineptitude numbers are in

The Guardian has compiled a list of indicators reflecting how inept each club has supposedly been this season.

U21s finish the season with comfortable win

Everton Under-21s beat Tottenham 3-1 at at Goodison Park this evening thanks to goals by Long, Byrne and Kenny.

Club tease 2015-16 home kit

Everton and Umbro have teased the first image of the new home shirt that will be unveiled on Thursday.

Lennon signs off with a win

Aaron Lennon tweeted this thanks to Everton's fans for their support during his loan spell from Tottenham which he said he was "gutted" about being over so soon.

Martinez: No connection between Galloway's debut and Garbutt's future

Roberto Martinez says that his decision to blood Brendan Galloway at Upton Park on Saturday bore no relation to Luke Garbutt's apparent contract impasse.

Elsewhere On The Web

Everton fans implicated in fracas at Kings Cross

Three football fans were arrested in the Kings Cross area of London today in an incident being blamed by some press outlets on Everton fans.

Elsewhere On The Web

Galloway revels in 'dream debut'

Brendan Galloway said his first senior appearance for Everton was "what dreams are made of" as he helped the Blues to a 2-1 win at West Ham.

Martinez credits Galloway with “impressive” debut

Brendan Galloway took full advantage of his first senior appearance for Everton with an accomplished display in the victory at West Ham that drew praise from manager Roberto Martinez.

Lukaku's grandstand finish caps Everton fightback

Romelu Lukaku popped up with an injury-time winner as Everton came from behind to secure another dramatic victory at Upton Park.

• Matchday updates and reaction
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29953.html
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29957.html

Distin denied send-off as Martinez focuses on the future

Sylvain Distin will not be offered the chance to bid farewell to Everton's fans from the Goodison Park pitch next weekend as Roberto Martinez rules out playing the Frenchman one last time.

Elsewhere On The Web

Is this Everton contract the oldest ever signed?

Lifelong Evertonian Cathy McVey believes she may have unearthed one of footballÂ’s oldest existing contracts, signed by Johnny Holt in 1889.

Second title eludes Young Blues

Everton's U18s fell just short of securing back-to-back Premier League titles when they lost 1-0 at Manchester City.

Long makes final Bees appearance

Chris Long came on after 70 minutes with Brentford 4-1 down on aggregate in their Championship play-offs second leg against Middlesbrough this evening but he was unable to help the Bees rescue the game.

Elsewhere On The Web

Martinez expecting to face 'fired-up' Hammers

“It is a direct competition if you want to get into that tenth position. It will be a really tight and really competitive game.”

Elsewhere On The Web

Kendall: Everton should give Distin a farewell against Spurs

The ex-Blues manager feels that a servant to the club like Sylvain Distin deserves a send-off and that Roberto Martinez should give him at least a place in the bench for the last match of the season.

West Ham United vs Everton

Everton and West Ham meet at Upton Park in the "battle for 10th" and a game which has the added dimension of possible entry to Europe via Uefa's Fair Play League.

No interest from Everton in renewing Atsu loan

Any action that Christian Atsu might see in the last two games of the season would be his last in an Everton jersey according to a report in the Echo.

Mirallas still content with life at Goodison

Kevin Mirallas has spoken again of how settled he feels at Everton as he looks to round off what could be his best season for the club despite more injury problems restricting his playing time.

Martinez not looking for striking reinforcements

Roberto Martinez has poured cold water on early speculation linking Everton with attacking targets by claiming he doesn't need to sign another striker this summer.

Baines has surgery on problem ankle

Leighton Baines will miss the last two games of the season after going under the knife to correct a long-standing ankle problem that forced him off during last Saturday's defeat by Sunderland.

Everton duo feature in England U17s win

Everton Academy players James Yates and Nathan Holland played the full 90 minutes of England U17s' final European Championships group match this evening, a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland.

Long made available for Brentford's crunch game

Chris Long will be available for selection by Brentford manager Mark Warburton as they prepare for their crucial Championship play-off second leg match against Middlesbrough.

Besic talks about ''difficult beginning''

Muhamed Besic admits he found his early months in England a “difficult beginning” after signing for Everton last summer but gradually the Bosnian international has got used to the rigours of a new league and reveals the manager is asking him to play the № 6 role.

Martinez will focus his search for a “№ 10” overseas

Roberto Martinez believes he will only be able to find the particular blend of attributes he is looking for in a new "№ 10" – one of the key areas in which he is looking to strengthen – in a foreign player.

Baines to see specialist over ankle injury

Leighton Baines is to see a specialist to determine the extent of an ankle injury that is causing pain and has been a problem area for some time.

Everton announce Asia Trophy dates

Everton's first match in the Asia Trophy, a pre-season tournament to be held in Singapore in mid-July, has been confirmed, with Stoke City their first opponents on Thursday the 16th.

Young Blues visit cancer centre to thank nurses

A quartet of EvertonÂ’s Under-21 players took time out of their busy schedule to say a well-deserved thank you to local nurses on Tuesday.

Everton would “embrace” European qualification via Fair Play League

Roberto Martinez has said that Everton "would love it" if the club were awarded a place in the Europa League next season by way of Uefa's Fair Play League, even if it means kicking off the campaign at the beginning of July.

Henen expects his future to be resolved by the end of the month

Negotiations over the proposed acquisition of David Henen from Olympiacos are apparently underway and the striker expects a decision either way by the end of May.

Martinez retains faith in 'brave' Barkley

Roberto Martinez says he retains his belief that Ross Barkley will fulfil his potential at Everton despite what has been a disappointing season for the 21-year-old.

Beardwood values Everton at £127m

Everton failed to make the top 20 of Forbes's recently-published list of the worldÂ’s most valuable football clubs so the Liverpool Echo discussed the club's valuation with financial expert Joe Beardwood.

Garbutt's future remains unclear

Luke Garbutt looks likely to play in Everton's final two games of the season but it is still not certain if he will be at Goodison Park beyond this summer when his current contract expires.

Money dictates final league positions

The Liverpool Echo features quotes from Joe Beardwood underlining the Premier League paradigm that survival and mid-table mediocrity represents success for a moderately funded team like Everton.

• Beardwood values Everton at £127m

Distin's exile a forward-thinking move for Martinez

Roberto Martinez says that he can understand Sylvain Distin's frustration at being dropped from the Everton team but explains it was a "footballing decision".

Black Cats grab the points off toothless Blues

Everton lost at home for the first time in 2015 as Sunderland benefited from two fortunate goals and the inability of Roberto Martinez's side to take advantage of their overwhelming domination of the game.

• Matchday updates and reaction
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29898.html
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29900.html

Disgruntled Distin breaks his silence

Updated Sylvain Distin has stirred further intrigue into his disappearance from the Everton first team with a post on social media today and an interview with L'Equipe in which he says he hasn't spoken with Roberto Martinez since transfer deadline day.

Under-21s secure vital win over West Ham

Everton U21s completed a successful bid to stave off relegation as David Unsworth's side won 2-1 at Rush Green Sports Ground.

Blues will debut new home kit against Spurs

Everton will unveil the 2015-16 home strip earlier than in recent seasons, with the players set to wear it for the final home game of the season.

Everton vs Sunderland

Everton play their penultimate home match of the 2014-15 season this Saturday in the lunchtime kick-off against relegation-threatened Sunderland.

• Live Forum

Duncan Ferguson: I'm addicted to coaching

The ex-striker tells The Times of his love for his new role at Everton and his ambition to be remembered more as a coach than as a player.

Baines relinquished spot-kick duties to keep Lukaku scoring

Leighton Baines has revealed that confidence lay behind his decision to give up his role as Everton's penalty taker – not through a lack of it on his part but to boost that of Romelu Lukaku in his role as the Blues' main goalscorer.

Martinez takes 'keeper search off the table

Roberto Martinez says that signing a goalkeeper is no longer a priority, arguing that Everton are "really strong" in that position.

Blues celebrate '85 anniversary

Howard Kendall and members of his 1984/85 league-winning side will return to Goodison on Saturday to mark the 30th anniversary of their triumphant season.

Great seats released for 2015/16

On Monday 11 May great seats at Goodison Park for the 2015-16 campaign will be released for new Season Ticket purchasers to buy.

Back door to Europe still ajar for Everton

Updated Everton may be battling to add some respectability to their Premier League season by finishing in the top half of the table but a clean fight could also see them qualify for Europe via Uefa's Fair Play league.

Lennon has one more goal before season's end

Aaron Lennon says he wants to score a goal at Goodison Park before the end of his loan spell with Everton.

Pennington gets Coventry accolade

Everton defender Matthew Pennington will sign off his season-long loan at Coventry City with the honour of being named the club's Young Player of the Year.

Martinez not prepared to risk Pienaar

Steven Pienaar will not play a part in any of Everton's remaining games this month if he isn't 100% fit as Roberto Martinez looks ahead to making sure the South African is fully ready for next season.

Brabin leaves Blues to take up Tranmere post

Gary Brabin has left his role at Everton's Academy to take up the managerial role at Tranmere Rovers, the club have announced.

Boss cautious over two-striker formation

Roberto Martinez says that he will use the option of playing another striker alongside Romelu Lukaku judiciously, saying that the formation can leave the Blues exposed against certain opposing teams.

U21s lose to Sunderland

Everton's second string lost away at Sunderland this evening with Duncan Watmore scoring the only goal.

Martinez and Lukaku call for response against Sunderland

Roberto Martinez admits that his team can't afford to demonstrate the lack of intensity they showed against Aston Villa on Saturday over the last three games of the season.

Martinez expresses McGeady hopes

Roberto Martinez has hinted at possible game time for Aiden McGeady over the last three games of the season now that the Irishman is fully fit.

Elsewhere On The Web

Audio: Sir Philip Carter obituary on BBC 'Last Word'

Matthew Bannister spoke to BBC Merseyside reporter Mike Hughes; to former Everton footballer Graeme Sharp and to former Everton manager Howard Kendall about the Blues chairman who passed away last week at the age of 87.

Martinez's fears realised as Blues fall at Villa Park

Roberto Martinez admits he was worried that his side would struggle to match their performance from last weekend against Aston Villa this afternoon.

Everton wilt in the heat of Villa's desire

Everton's six-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as a poor overall performance proved no match for Aston Villa's urgency in the face of danger from relegation.

• Matchday updates and reaction
• /season/14-15/comment/reports/29845.html

Elsewhere On The Web

Horne: Big summer ahead for Everton

"A late run is great, but not season defining," the ex-Blues midfielder writes in his latest column. "It is a big summer ahead for all concerned at Everton, the chairman, chief executive and manager."

WIN a Gary Lineker-autographed shirt, courtesy of Football Fanager

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Aston Villa vs Everton

Top of the form table for the past six matches, the Blues travel to an Aston Villa side that has been rejuvenated somewhat by new manager Tim Sherwood but still remains in significant relegation danger coming into the weekend.

• Live Forum