I've been updating my records of hat-tricks scored by Everton players, and trying to get timings to see who was the quickest ever for Everton.

 

Currently it is Bobby Irvine with 3 goals in 5 minutes during the second half of the game against Aston Villa on 21 January 1922, which Everton won 3:2.

 

However, there appears to be a more remarkable feat from a certain William Ralph Dean.

 

It was against Chelsea on 14 November 1931, which Everton won 7:2.  Dean got 5 goals in the game and the timings were:

 

5 minutes - Scores with a header

8 minutes - Scores with another header

15 minutes - Scores with yet another header (3 goals in 10 minutes)

 

This breathtaking spell set a record for, what is believed to be the fastest hat-trick of headers in English football (and maybe British football), and also set a record for the earliest time in a match that an Everton player has registered a hat-trick.  However, he wasn't finished yet:

 

24 minutes - Scores a fourth goal (4 goals in 19 minutes)

32 minutes - Scores a fifth goal (5 goals in 27 minutes)

 

Not only are these the earliest times for an Everton player to score 4 and 5 goals in a match, but also the quickest.

 

However, it leads me onto my question.  Has anyone else scored 5 goals before half-time?  And, if so, has anyone been quicker?

 

The only other time of an Everton player scoring more than 3 goals before half time was Dean again in his record breaking 1927-28 season (when he scoerd 60 goals), scoring 4 in the first half against Manchester United on 8 October 1927 - his fourth goal coming after 40 mintues.  He went on to score a 5th goal int he second half as Everton ran out 5:2 winners.

 

Steve Flanagan