Ray Wilson became the first Everton player to win through to a World Cup final ON THIS DAY in 1966.

The Blues defender was in the England team that defeated Portugal 2-1 at Wembley.

Bobby Charlton gave England the lead after half an hour and then he doubled it with 10 minutes to go.

The great Eusebio pulled a late goal back for Portugal but England had done enough and were through to face West Germany in the final.

Everton played Argentinian giants River Plate ON THIS DAY in 2009.

The Blues had jetted over to the USA for a pre-season camp and midway through crossed the border into Canada to play the Edmonton Cup, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Alberta Soccer Association.

The only goal of the game was scored by River Plate’s experienced Argentina international Ariel Ortega, who expertly chipped the ball over Everton keeper Carlo Nash in the 27th minute.

Brazilian Jo missed a great second-half chance and Louis Saha had a late penalty claim waved away but by and large it was a contest of few chances and Everton returned to the States after the game in readiness for the friendly against the MLS All Stars three days later.

David Moyes shelled out an Everton record transfer fee for a goalkeeper ON THIS DAY in 2002 when he signed Richard Wright from Arsenal.

Wright started his career at Ipswich Town before securing a move to Arsenal in 2001. In his only season at Highbury he played enough games to win a Premier League title-winners medal but he couldn’t dislodge David Seaman and joined Everton.

He made his Blues debut on the same day that Wayne Rooney made his, against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison, and he would eventually play 71 times for the Club.

His progress at Everton was hindered by a couple of unfortunate accidents which led to injuries - first, he fell out of his loft and later he twisted his ankle tripping over a sign on the edge of a Stamford Bridge penalty area.

Wright left Everton in 2007 to join West Ham United.