Star Exhibits
3. 1888 – 89 volume of bound programmes, which span over the first year of the Football League. The programmes include all the games and all the friendlies played.
Everton was the first club to distribute match day programmes detailing team line-ups. The Collection includes approximately 6,065 programmes covering the Club’s participation in league, cup competitions, friendly games, and reserve team fixtures between 1886 – 2001.
Everton was a founder member of the Football League, and the Collection includes a truly unique volume of programmes issued by the Club during the inaugural season of 1888 – 89. The bound volume comprises 27 programmes in pristine condition, and includes the programme for Everton’s first game against Newton Heath, a team now known as Manchester United. As United’s earliest known programme, this artefact would be priceless to the Old Trafford Museum.
David France explains: "Programmes from the 1888/89 season are more than rare - they are unheard of. In fact to come across a single programme for any club from the 19th century is quite a revelation, but to discover a programme from a current Premiership Club from the pre-League era is mind-boggling. Then to cast your eyes on all of the home programmes issued by that club during the inaugural season is . . . astonishing, inconceivable, miraculous and mind-blowing - as well as bordering on absurd!”
Spanning over a period of more than 12 decades, the Collection includes all of the home programmes and most of the away programmes for every game in which Dixie Dean turned out for Everton and for every game which the Club has played since Dean’s time at Everton came to an end. The collection of programmes not only documents the changing history of the Club, but also reflects the changing history of Merseyside, socially and economically and offers a great opportunity for fans and Merseyside people alike, to reminisce and learn about times gone by.
