Everton's Unbeaten Start Sparks Cautious Optimism Amid 31-Year Trophy Drought
Everton's strong start to the season has fans cautiously optimistic, but the club's 31-year wait for a trophy and historical struggles temper expectations.
Everton have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season and progressed in the Carabao Cup, lifting the mood among supporters after a frustrating transfer window. The window ended badly, with a move for AS Monaco striker Falorin Balogun collapsing and Iliman Ndiaye sold to Manchester City for £65m, leaving manager David Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players.
Moyes is aiming to end Everton's 31-year wait for a trophy, a drought that has left them with an unwanted record: since 2000, they are the only club in the top four tiers of English football not to have won a trophy or been promoted. Their last trophy was the 1995 FA Cup. They have also had several close calls with relegation, notably staying up on the final day in 2022-23 and in the previous campaign with a comeback win over Crystal Palace.
Despite the lack of silverware, former player Leon Osman, who made 433 appearances for the club, insists the experience has not been all misery. He highlights reaching the 2009 FA Cup final, semi-finals, and qualifying for the Champions League in 2005 as memorable achievements. 'I wouldn't swap being an Evertonian for anything,' he said, pointing to European trips and the passion of the fans.
Prominent supporter Dr. David France, who has travelled two million miles from his home in the United States to watch Everton, also celebrates his fandom. He acknowledges the club's decline but recalls recent highs, such as the 2-0 win over Liverpool at Goodison Park in April 2024. 'You don't become an Evertonian to be a glory hunter,' he said, emphasising the community and loyalty among fans.
Everton remain one of six Premier League originals never relegated from the top flight, but their record since 2000 is bleak: no wins at Chelsea in 27 attempts, only five wins in 53 Merseyside derbies, and just two League Cup semi-final appearances. However, the 2004-05 fourth-place finish under Moyes, described by Arsène Wenger as a miracle, stands out as a high point.
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