Everton manager David Moyes signed a defender ON THIS DAY in 2007 who would go on to play more than 400 games for the Club.

Leighton Baines was a much sought-after left-back with Wigan Athletic when Everton recruited him for £6million.

He didn’t get into the team immediately as Joleon Lescott was playing well at left-back but when he did force his way in, he was there to stay.

Numerous Player of the Year awards followed and his unerring accuracy and power from free-kicks had Evertonians comparing him to Kevin Sheedy.

His two against West Ham at Upton Park in 2013, the humdinger at Newcastle United later that year and the last-minute equaliser at Chelsea in the 2011 FA Cup are just a few of the many standout moments that Baines provided.

His last goal was also a bit special – a cracker into the top corner of the net against Leicester City in the League Cup in December 2019.

Baines retired at the end of the 2019/20 season after 13 years at Everton.

Paul Gascoigne scored his first goal in an Everton jersey ON THIS DAY in 2000.

Signed from Middlesbrough by Walter Smith, Gazza scored in a pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The Blues were on a pre-season tour of the West Country and Gazza’s big moment came in the 27th minute when he volleyed a quality finish past Argyle keeper Jon Sheffield.

Joe-Max Moore had already given Everton the lead and the American scored again before half-time.

Alex Nyarko and Stephen Hughes added second-half goals to make the final score 5-0.

The Blues went one better ON THIS DAY in 2004 when they put six goals past Sheffield Wednesday.

The squad had only returned from a hugely successful pre-season trip to Houston, Texas, 48 hours earlier but showed no signs of jet-lag as they defeated The Owls 6-3 at Hillsborough.

Steve Watson (2), Leon Osman, Kevin Campbell, James McFadden and Kevin Kilbane scored the goals on a night when Anthony Gerrard and Danny Fox were given their first taste of First-Team action.