Everton FC was founded in 1878 as St. Domingo Church Sunday School Club.In 1879 they changed the name to Everton FC. The name was adopted at a meeting at the Queens Head Hotel in Village Street close to the Toffee House operated by Old Ma Bushell the original Toffee Lady and the person who created Everton Toffees.
In 1884 the team moved to Anfield Road and a new club president was elected, John Houlding he was the landlord of Sandon Hotel and owner of the field. Unfortunately John Houlding kept increasing the rent on the field which led to a disagreement with George Mahon a member of the St-Domingo Church which was the owner of the Football team. Consequently, the clubs owners voted to leave Anfield Road and return to Stanley Park, namely Mere Green Field. Having settled at Mere Green Field the club renamed the site Goodison Park.
Meanwhile another contest was taking place and this competition concerned the supply and manufacture of the famous Everton mint or toffee.
The toffees had always proved popular with the crowds who watched Everton play in at Stanley Park, later Priory Road and at Everton’s third ground Anfield. However, after the move from Anfield in 1892 to Goodison Park sales of Everton Toffees from Old Ma Bushell’s Ye Anciente Everton Toffee shop started to decline. This was in part due to the long distance that now separated Old Ma Bushell's tasty goods from the crowds around Goodison Park and the added competition of Mother Noblett’s Toffee Shop located near to Goodison Park. Realising the importance of this opportunity Mrs Noblett created a new toffee or mint and the Everton Mint was established. The now familiar black and white stripe sweets reflected the colours of an earlier football strip that Everton FC had worn.
This might have been the end of the story except Ma Bushell did not take the new competition lying down. Using her business acumen Ma Bushell gained permission from the clubs management to distribute Everton Toffees to the crowd inside the ground prior to the kick-off. Wearing a broad hat and carrying a basket Ma Bushell’s grand-daughter performed the task of distributing the individually wrapped toffees a tradition which continues to this day.
The establishment of an Everton crest was initially considered at the end of the 1937-38 season by Everton’s secretary Theo Kelly who later became manager. Initially it was to be used as part of a design for a necktie the colour of which was to be blue.
Having spent many months contemplating the actual crest Kelly chose to utilise an image of the tower or beacon on Everton Brow which was constructed in 1787 and used as a bridewell to incarcerate criminals. After some further refinements and the inclusion of the club motto: ‘Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum (only the best is good enough) a tie was produced and first worn on the opening day of the 1938-39 season.
The crest has since been used in the design of football badges produced for fans of Everton Football Club. Sports Kerlectables stocks a selection of contemporary and vintage enamel football badges associated with Everton FC and regularly reviews its stocks.
