While shadows loomed over Europe in the form of the Great War, at Goodison Park the Blues were on the verge of achieving the first league and cup double of the new century.
Fate, and injuries were to conspire against the Blues and deny them the elusive prize but a team containing the likes of Bobby Parker, Sam Chedgzoy, and Harry Makepeace came as close as any side would over the next 50 years.
Parker proved to be a striker cast in the Everton mould, hitting home 36 times in his 35 games to make him the top scorer in the league, and this at a time when the offside rule dictated three players had to be between the player and the goal.
Supported by Chedgzoy, Makepeace and Joe Clennell up front and with Fern in goal marshalling a back line including captain Jimmy Galt, Everton were fearsome opposition.
Despite a stuttering start Everton found their feet, inflicting a memorable 5-0 defeat on Liverpool at Anfield with a Parker hat-trick and a Clennell brace sealing the win. It was one of four hat-tricks Parker would score during the season, he also netted four in one game, and his final goal against Chelsea in a match that ended 2-2 secured them the title.
The league title was in the bag put the potential double was scuppered in the semi-finals of the Cup when Chelsea grabbed the win from an Everton side missing Fern, full-back MacConnachie and after ten minutes of the tie, Makepeace.
With no substitutes allowed ten-man Everton lost 2-0 but with the league title in the trophy cabinet they were more than willing to put that particular disappointment aside.
