The 212th meeting between Everton and Aston Villa, the most popular league match in England, will determine the outcome by a mere three goals. This matchup is considered the original Old Firm.

Two ancient rivals collide again. Founders of the Football League, these men have a rich history, a mixed record, and a complex story that makes their matchup the most disputed of all premier league games.

They play each other for the 212th time in the competition on Sunday, making a total of 231 encounters. Their records are incredibly close, with only four victories and three goals separating them over a 135-year span.

Between them, they own 34 major trophies, with at least one in each decade from the start of organized football to the start of the current millennium, with the exception of the 1940s due to war-related events.

Prior to World War I, Aston Villa was a prolific team, while Everton—the second-ever champions after Preston North End—was steadier and more consistent. Dixie Dean’s goals contributed to Everton’s flourishes in the 1930s, and Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, and Colin Harvey’s legendary midfield in the 1960s served as inspiration.

But it has been nearly 30 years since either team has achieved any notable success. Their legendary 1977 League Cup final trilogy propelled them to the pinnacle of English football dominance.

Derek Mountfield acknowledges, “Well, there was a time when I detested Aston Villa,” recalling his anguish as an adolescent Everton on that particular night, if somewhat jokingly.

He was a devoted singer who gave his all.

Little gave Villa the lead very quickly, but Mick Lyons forced extra time. With penalties on the horizon, Little scored once more to give Birmingham the trophy back.

When Mountfield relocated from Tranmere Rovers to Goodison Park, Aston Villa had won the European Cup, and Ron Saunders had bought Ken McNaught from Everton after being pleased by his performance in the League Cup final. McNaught was the focal point of Villa’s defense.

According to McNaught, “he saw something he liked and kept coming back.” It required the entire off-season. I declined his advances. I was settled with my spouse. We had recently tied the knot, purchased a home, and planned a month-long family vacation to America. There are no cell phones

in “What a fantastic evening,” remarks the 68-year-old, who is recovering in his home country of Scotland following a slew of serious medical issues, including as cancer, a stroke, and heart surgery.

I have a warm place for both clubs because I worked there for six years. Villa is all about the things I won, but Everton is where I had my first experience of playing professional football, and the supporters really took to me there.

I have always desired, deep down, that I could have won something for the Everton supporters. In the Clive Thomas semifinal of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1977, against Liverpool, we were very near.

This alludes to Bryan Hamilton’s goal, which referee Thomas originally disallowed for offside before he decided to alter his mind and call it a handball. The replay was won by Liverpool.

‘After our fantastic run, I was happy to see Everton winning a few trophies,’ adds McNaught. “It’s all about taking home the trophy.” That was back in the day. Now, it appears a little more mercenary. Perhaps I am a dinosaur.

An FA Cup victory in 1984 gave Everton their first trophy after a 14-year drought. After Mountfield’s game-winning goal against Luton Town at Villa Park in the semi-final, they added the league title, the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, and an FA Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley the following year.

“Villa Park has always conjured up images of semifinals,”

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