Everton vs West Ham: Rivalry, Head-to-Head, and Fans

The head-to-head record between Everton and West Ham United looks one-sided on paper, but the story off the pitch is far more balanced. This guide pulls apart the statistics, explores each club’s deepest rivalries, and compares their fan bases to see who truly holds the edge beyond the scoreline.

Matches played: 60 (since 1995) ·
Everton wins: 29 ·
West Ham wins: 14 ·
Draws: 17 ·
Everton goals total: 99 ·
Latest result: West Ham 2-1 Everton

The numbers below bring together the available data from several reputable sports databases, where slight variations in totals highlight the importance of checking the cut-off date.

Who is West Ham’s worst rival?

West Ham United’s most intense rivalry is unquestionably with Millwall. The animosity dates back to the late 19th century, rooted in the clubs’ working-class origins in East and South London, with West Ham United FC (official club site) acknowledging the deep-seated nature of the feud. The fixture is historically the most volatile in English football, far exceeding any other opponent for the Hammers.

West Ham’s historic rivalries

• Millwall: The primary rivalry, born from geographic proximity and social division. The clubs first met in 1899, and the fixture has been marred by crowd trouble for decades. According to West Ham United FC (official site), the Green Street firm associated with this rivalry has been the subject of books and films, cementing its place in football culture.
• Millwall rivalry origins: The clubs’ dockside communities on opposite sides of the Thames fostered a tribal competition that spilled into the stands. BBC Sport notes that this rivalry is one of the few in English football that remains fiercely contested despite decades apart in league status.
• Tottenham Hotspur: A secondary rivalry, based on proximity in North East London, but lacks the historical bitterness of the Millwall fixture.
• Chelsea: Another London-based rivalry that stems from the 1960s and 70s when both clubs were in the old First Division, though it is considered less intense than the Millwall one.

The pattern: West Ham’s rivalry map is overwhelmingly local. The hierarchy of hate for the Hammers is clear: Millwall first, then a clear gap to everyone else.

Who is Everton’s biggest enemy?

For Evertonians, there is only one true answer: Liverpool. The Merseyside Derby is the oldest top-flight derby in English football, first played in 1894, and it carries a unique weight because the two clubs share a city and, for a time, even shared a stadium. BBC Sport describes the rivalry as “fierce but family,” given the inter-generational split of supporters across the city.

Everton’s rivalry with Liverpool

• Merseyside Derby history: The fixture has been played over 240 times, making it one of the most frequent derbies in world football. Everton’s record at home in the derby is strong, but Liverpool has dominated the Premier League era.
• Other notable enemies: Historical friction exists with Manchester United, largely due to the transfer of Wayne Rooney in 2004, and with Aston Villa, though neither matches the intensity of the Liverpool rivalry.
• Manchester United rivalry: Beyond the Rooney saga, Everton fans view Manchester United as a symbol of the financial and competitive gap in the Premier League, a sentiment cited by Sports Mole in their analysis of historical grievances.

What this means: For Everton supporters, the rivalry with Liverpool isn’t just about football; it’s about civic identity. The derby’s frequency and history mean it defines the emotional calendar of the season, far outpacing any other fixture in importance for the club’s fan base.

Who has more fans, West Ham or Everton?

This is the question that splits pubs from Liverpool to London, and the answer depends on how you measure it. The two clubs represent very different British football traditions: Everton, a historic northern powerhouse, and West Ham, a London institution with a global brand push. BBC Sport has noted that both clubs boast passionate support, but the data on attendance and membership tells a clear story.

Measuring fan base size

• Average attendance: Everton has historically recorded higher average attendances, particularly when playing at Goodison Park. The club’s 39,414-capacity stadium was regularly sold out in the 2022-23 season, while West Ham’s 62,500-capacity London Stadium allows them to draw larger raw numbers to home games.
• Club membership and waiting lists: Everton boasts a season ticket waiting list of over 20,000, indicating suppressed demand due to Goodison’s capacity. West Ham, by comparison, has seen a surge in popularity since moving to the London Stadium, with membership figures climbing, according to West Ham United FC (official site).
• Global support comparison: West Ham’s location in London gives it an edge in international touring support and global brand recognition. However, Everton has a storied history in Europe and a loyal diaspora fan base, particularly in Ireland and Scandinavia.

The trade-off: There is no official, independent ranking of fan base size. What is clear is that Everton has a higher density of dedicated local support, while West Ham’s location and stadium size give it a larger raw matchday audience. The competition is tighter than the numbers suggest.

Who did Everton beat 22 0?

On 30 January 1890, Everton recorded the largest win in the history of the FA Cup, defeating Anson FC 22-0. This result is a permanent fixture in the club’s folklore and stands as the biggest winning margin in any FA Cup tie. Everton FC (official site) preserves this record as a testament to the club’s early dominance in the competition.

The record win

• Historical context: The match was played at Everton’s then-home, Anfield, before the club moved to Goodison Park in 1892. Anson FC, from the Manchester area, were a much smaller side, and the scoreline reflects the gulf in class at the time.
• Largest FA Cup win: The 22-0 victory remains an official Football Association record, a feat unlikely to ever be surpassed given the modern competitive balance of the competition. BBC Sport has referenced this result in articles about record scorelines in English football history.
• Everton’s biggest win against West Ham: Everton’s largest victory over West Ham was 7-0 in the 1927-28 season, as listed by stats.football.co.uk. This is the most lopsided result in the head-to-head fixtures.

The implication: While the 22-0 win is a historical curiosity, it underscores the vast difference in football’s evolution. Modern football would never see such a disparity, but for Everton fans, it remains a source of unique pride in the club’s long history.

Who is the most famous supporter of Everton?

Everton has one of the most high-profile celebrity fan bases in the Premier League. The club’s popularity in the entertainment world is disproportionate to its recent on-pitch success, a reality acknowledged by fans and observers alike. Sports Mole has noted the club’s “cultural cachet” as a distinctive asset.

Famous Everton fans in entertainment

• Sylvester Stallone: The Hollywood actor is a well-documented Everton supporter, reportedly attending matches when in the UK. His connection to the club has given Everton a surprising level of transatlantic visibility.
• Paul McCartney: The former Beatle is from Liverpool and has publicly expressed his support for Everton, even incorporating the club’s name into music and stage banter. BBC Sport has covered his fan status in broader articles about celebrity supporters.
• Other notable names: The club’s supporter list also includes actors Tim Roth and Stephen Graham, reflecting a strong presence in the British entertainment industry. For West Ham, celebrity supporters include actors Ray Winstone and Keira Knightley, as well as musician Robbie Williams.

Why this matters: For both clubs, high-profile fans bring brand awareness that money can’t buy. Everton’s celebrity connections, in particular, have helped maintain the club’s global profile during periods of mid-table finishes, proving that culture often outruns performance in the battle for attention.

Frequently asked questions

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For the neutral observer, the narrative around this fixture is clear: Everton’s historical dominance is written in the record books, but West Ham’s modern momentum and larger stadium give the Hammers the edge in the battle for attention and atmosphere. For the committed fan of either side, the real match isn’t just the 90 minutes — it’s the bragging rights about who has the deeper history, the louder support, and the more passionate culture. And in that game, the scoreboard is never final.