were formed in 1879 as Bootle St Johns AFC and played their first fixture in October 1880 against Everton.

[3] When the Football League was founded, William MacGregor invited Everton as the representatives of the city of Liverpool, rather than Bootle.

[2] That season was their most successful as they finished league runners-up (winning every home match), and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they lost 7–0 to Blackburn Rovers.

At the end of the 1891–92 season, the club was in serious financial difficulties, owing £300 to lenders and £800 for the construction of new stands, against annual income of £2,000.

In order to raise funds the club decided to form a limited liability company.