Everton FC and St. Domingo’s Church

In Everton FC and St. Domingo’s Church: How Religion

Transformed Football, Bob Waterhouse uncovers the powerful,

and sometimes controversial, role of churches in shaping the

early game.

From Victorian Liverpool, where Methodist teetotalism inspired

From Victorian Liverpool, where Methodist teetotalism inspired

Everton’s birth, to the sectarian rivalries of Glasgow and the

Catholic-driven rise of Celtic, this book shows how faith helped set

football’s foundations. Deeply inspired by St. Domingo’s Church

the cradle of Everton FC Waterhouse explores how its

congregation’s values, fellowship, and moral vision shaped what

would become one of England’s most storied clubs. He also

reveals how Christian values of discipline and teamwork were

exported worldwide, from South America to Europe, through

missionaries, schools, and sporting associations. Alongside

Christianity, he explores how Islam, Judaism and Sikhism have

more recently shaped the game’s culture, reminding us that

football’s reli

gious roots continue to grow.

Balancing scholarship with storytelling, Waterhouse not only

Balancing scholarship with storytelling, Waterhouse not only

revisits the birth of famous clubs but also asks bold questions: how

much influence did St. Domingo’s truly have on Everton’s

founding? And what do today’s football chaplains, faith-based

teams and global debates over religion in sport tell us about

football’s future?