Everton 'secret' hailed by Tim Cahill now back where he started

Having been appointed Everton’s head of academy recruitment & player pathways last month, James Vaughan is now responsible for bringing through the next generation of Blues youngsters. But his own record-breaking strike has now stood for longer than he’d been around back then.

Some 19 years ago today, on April 10, 2005, Vaughan, aged 16 years and 270 days at the time, became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history when he came off the bench and netted on his Everton debut to seal a 4-0 thrashing against Crystal Palace. On-loan Mikel Arteta set the ball rolling just seven minutes in with a superb free-kick curled around the wall for his first goal for the club before a Tim Cahill brace early in the second half (smashing into the net on 47 minutes and then a back-post header on 54 minutes) put the Blues in command.

With 16 minutes remaining, manager David Moyes replaced left-back Gary Naysmith with the teenage striker and on 87 minutes the young Brummie pounced as he attacked the ball to meet a low left wing cross from Kevin Kilbane. Scott McLeod wrote in the ECHO: “There has been talk of his talent in footballing circles all season but the Blues have tried hard to keep them under wraps.

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“Now, though, the secret is out. He is a huge prospect, although comparisons with you know who (Wayne Rooney) would be unfair.”

Everton’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Cahill was quick to sing his rookie team-mate’s praises. He said: “It was fantastic. It was great to get two goals but for Vaughany to score as well was special.

“The kid is young and enthusiastic. We have seen him in training and every time he gets the ball he shoots and whether he scores or not you can see he has got something in him and he is a gifted kid.

“That showed in the game because not many youngsters can come onto the pitch and put themselves about and show the presence he did. The confidence was oozing from him. And he took the goal tremendously.

“Whether you are two yards or 50 yards out, it still takes a lot of effort to score. It was a striker’s goal and we were delighted for him.”

The result kept Moyes’ men on course for the only Champions League qualification in the club’s history but injuries restricted Vaughan to 60 matches for Everton and he scored nine goals. In 408 appearances over his career, he found the net 120 times and now back with the Blues, he is determined to help a fresh crop of youngsters progress along Finch Farm’s conveyor belt of talent.

On taking up his position, the 35-year-old said: “This is a new role I am extremely passionate and excited about and to be given the opportunity to do it at Everton is a real honour. I said when I re-joined the club 18 months ago it felt like I'd come home.

“It's a privilege to be here, knowing what the club means to so many people. I know because I feel that, too.

“We want the best for Everton and I will work relentlessly in helping to achieve our wider goal of building a bright future for this club.”