A short history to the Everton Toffees

Where did the name The Toffees come from?

To find out why Everton FC or the Evertonians are also called Toffees, you have to look very far back into the history of the club and the Everton district. In the 18th century, Everton was known for sweets and toffees.

Two Toffee Shops particularly closely associated with the club were Ye Anciente Everton Toffee House and Mother Noblett's Toffee Shop. Both have served Everton fans with sweets over the years. However, these two shops were in direct competition with each other and it is thanks to this fact that the term The Toffees came into being.

Ye Ancient Everton Toffee House

A stone's throw from the Queen's Head Hotel on Village Street, where St Domingo's Football Club was renamed Everton Football Club, was Ye Ancient Everton Toffee House, run by Old Ma Bushell.

Said to be the 'Original' Toffe Shop in Everton, owned by the legendary Molly Bushell. Source: LIVERPOOL HISTORY BACK IN THE DAY facebook page

Famous for their Everton Toffees, the Old Ma Bushell Shop was a must-visit for any Everton fan heading to a game. First in Stanley Park, then on Priory Road and even on Anfield Road, which was owned by Everton before Liverpool FC took ownership, Everton fans were loyal customers.

Mother Noblett's Toffee Shop

Meanwhile, Mother Noblett had opened her toffee shop near Goodison Park and became increasingly popular as Everton moved from Anfield Road to their new stadium at Goodison Park. To lure customers away from her rival, Old Ma Bushel, Mother Noblett invented the Everton Mints.

Nobletts remained in Liverpool until the mid-20th century. Here is a photo of the Nobletts shop on the London Road in 1956. Source: LIVERPOOL HISTORY BACK IN THE DAY Facebook page

Toffees or mints?

The sweets had some fundamental differences. The Everton Mints had a toffee core and were surrounded by a black and white striped sugar crust, intended to represent Everton's kits. These mints were very popular with Everton fans.

In contrast, Old Ma Bushell made traditional English toffees made with cane sugar, water, butter and lemon essence. However, Old Ma didn't invent this toffee. Everton Toffees were actually invented by Molly Bushell in 1760.

The tradition of the Everton Toffee Lady

In the race for supremacy, and of course business, Old Ma Bushell business quickly declined after Everton’s moving to Goodison Park and the inventing Mother Noblett's Everton Mints.

Everton toffee lady, 16 year old Catherine Dunn, holds up a trophy presented to Everton fans before the game against Crystal Palace. Aug. 16, 1969.

But Old Ma Bushell had a brilliant idea. With fans stuck inside the stadium for the duration of the match, Old Ma Bushell obtained permission from the club to sell her toffees inside the ground. She enlisted the help of her beautiful granddaughter, Jemima Bushell, who dressed in her finest attire (including a large bonnet) distributed Everton Toffees to fans at the stadium before and during the game.

A tradition was born out of this interactive marketing. The Everton Toffee Lady can still be seen before every home game. A student from Everton Supporters Club is chosen for each home game to slip into the wardrobe of the famous Everton Toffee Lady.

Toffee Lady before game Everton FC vs Manchester City 2013

Whether this story is 100% accurate is not clearly verifiable. There are those who have argued that the term Toffees is even older and derives from The Taffies, a reminder of the club's links to Wales near Liverpool.

Nonetheless, one of many great stories about this popular club in Liverpool and a reason for football fans to plan a match breaks to Everton Football Club.