Editing Everton F.C. (section)

=== Early grounds ===
{{Further|Stanley Park, Liverpool|Anfield}}[[File:George-mahon.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A black-and-white portrait photograph of a bearded man in a dark three-piece suit.| [[George Mahon (accountant)|George Mahon]] arranged for Everton to move to Goodison Park]]

Everton originally played in the southeast corner of [[Stanley Park, Liverpool|Stanley Park]]. The first official match took place in 1879. In 1882, a man named J. Cruitt donated land at Priory Road which became the club's home, though while the new ground was being prepared the club played at least one game at the ground at Walton Stiles (at the other end of City Road from what would become Goodison Park).<ref name=royden>{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Royden |title=In Search of Priory Road 1883-84 |url=https://efcheritagesociety.com/in-search-of-priory-road-1883-84/ |publisher=Everton FC Heritage Society |date=1 November 2021 |accessdate=19 May 2025}}</ref> Everton's first game there was played in November 1883, a 3-1 victory over Hartford St. John’s; however the club's tenure there lasted just one season, before Cruitt gave them notice to quit due to concerns about noise and fan behaviour.<ref name=royden/> In 1884 Everton became tenants at [[Anfield]], which was owned by John Orrell, a land owner who was a friend of Everton F.C. member [[John Houlding]]. Orrell lent Anfield to the club in exchange for a small rent. Houlding purchased the land from Orrell in 1885 and effectively became Everton's landlord by charging the club rent, which increased from £100 to £240 a year by 1888 – and was still rising until Everton left the ground in 1892.<ref>{{cite web |title=I: THE EARLY DAYS (1878–88) |publisher=Toffeeweb |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/concise/1878-1888.asp |access-date=17 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215091240/http://www.toffeeweb.com/history/concise/1878-1888.asp |archive-date=15 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Groom">{{cite book |last1=Groom |first1=Andy |title=The Illustrated Everton Story |date=2014 |publisher=Andrews UK Limited}}</ref> The club regarded the increase in rent as unacceptable.<ref name="Groom" /> A further dispute between Houlding and the club's committee led to Houlding attempting to gain full control of the club by registering the company, "Everton F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd". Everton left Anfield for a new ground, [[Goodison Park]], where the club has played ever since. Houlding attempted to take over Everton's name, colours, fixtures and league position, but was denied by [[The Football Association]]. Instead, Houlding formed a new club, [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool F.C]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/timeline/1892-1917/liverpool-football-club-is-formed |title=Liverpool Football Club is formed |publisher=Liverpool FC |access-date=22 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907184403/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/history/timeline/1892-1917/liverpool-football-club-is-formed |archive-date=7 September 2012 }}</ref>