Premier League Everton FC, who arrive in Utah with a squad full of stars this week, will be looking for a strong performance in Saturday's clash with Real Salt Lake.
The Liverpool, England-based club plans to build on last season's sixth-place finish when the Premier League kicks off next month.
Thanks to their high league position, Everton also qualified for next season's UEFA cup competition, where coach David Moyes and his men will face some of the top sides in Europe.
With U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard at the heart of its defense, Everton boasts an array of talent, including England national team stars Andy Johnson and Phil Neville, skilful Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, and up-and-coming defender Joleon Lescott.
Here's everything you need to know about Everton Football Club:
The 'People's Club'
Founded in 1878, Everton is one of the oldest and most successful teams in England, having won the league title nine times and the FA cup on five occasions, most recently in 1995. The coming season will be the club's 105th in the top division, which is more than any other English club has achieved.
Although the years since the FA Cup win have been trophy-less, recent seasons have seen Everton climb the Premier League table, even qualifying for the European Champions League after a fourth-place finish in 2005.
Although their team are often cast as underdogs to local rivals Liverpool FC, Everton fans were ecstatic last September when Andy Johnson's two goals clinched a dramatic 3-0 victory over their neighbors. Other notable scalps last season included Arsenal and Tottenham, with only a controversial refereeing decision denying Everton victory against Chelsea, and fifth place, on the final day of the season.
Everton is steeped in history, and has played its home games at the Goodison Park stadium since 1892. A venue for five games in the 1966 World Cup, Goodison is a land-marked building built around a 19th century church, which is situated behind one of the corner flags.
The club, unusually, has two nicknames. Officially, Everton are called "The Toffees", after a centuries-old candy store that was once located near Goodison Park. Recent years, however, have seen fans increasingly refer to Everton as "The People's Club", a term coined by Moyes when he was appointed in 2002, and a reference to the fanatical and highly vocal support the team enjoys within the local area.
Players To Look Out For
Tim Howard
Best known to U.S. fans is Tim Howard, who joined Everton from Manchester United last season, after proving himself during a loan spell. Howard's success in last month's CONCACAF Gold Cup with the U.S. team capped an impressive first season with Everton, which saw the former New York/New Jersey MetroStar record 13 Premier League shutouts.
Mikel Arteta
Everton's player of the year for the past two seasons, Arteta made an immediate impact after arriving from Spain's Real Sociedad in 2005. The midfielder has earned a reputation as a scorer of spectacular goals, and his passing ability has proved critical to Everton's resurgence.
Firmly established as a fan favorite, Arteta, who is dating a former Miss Spain, was ranked one of the top six players in the Premiership last season.
Andy Johnson
"AJ", as he is known to the fans, joined Everton from London side Crystal Palace in a club-record $17 million deal last summer. The speedy striker immediately set about dismantling opposition defenses, scoring six goals in his first seven league games.
Johnson's attacking displays soon earned a call-up to the England national team, and he featured in games against Holland, Israel, Macedonia, and Andorra. Although an ankle injury sidelined him for part of the season, Johnson still finished as Everton's top scorer, with 12 goals in all competitions.
Phil Neville
Lured away from Manchester United in the summer of 2005, the versatile Neville is capable of playing as a full-back or in midfield, and like Johnson is a key member of the England national team.
The younger brother of Manchester United captain Gary Neville, Phil fulfills the same role at Goodison Park, where he brings stability to the team's midfield and defense.
Joleon Lescott
The 24-year old central defender joined Everton last year from lower division side Wolverhampton Wanderers and quickly stepped up to the fast pace of the Premiership. With an ability to read defensive situations that belies his years, a string of composed performances helped Everton embark on a two-month undefeated streak.
After just one season in England's top division, Lescott is already being touted as a future England international, and there has even been speculation linking the defender with a move to Spanish giant Real Madrid.
The U.S. Connection
Tim Howard is just the latest in a string of American players to ply their trade at Goodison Park. He follows in the foot-steps of U.S. national team hero Brian McBride and one-time New England Revolution star Joe-Max Moore.
McBride spent a brief yet productive spell at Everton while playing for the Columbus Crew in 2003. The forward, who is now starring for Premier League side Fulham, scored four goals in just eight games for Everton, helping to lift the team out of a mid-season slump.
Moore enjoyed a longer spell at Goodison Park, starting 27 games and making 37 substitute appearances between 1999 and 2002. The striker quickly endeared himself to the fans by scoring five goals in his first five games, but injury and limited playing opportunities saw him add just five more goals to his Everton tally.
Saturday's game will be Everton's third visit to the U.S. under David Moyes. In 2004 the team was in Houston, Texas for the Copa de Tejas against Mexican sides Pachuca and Club America. Although Everton were eventually defeated by Club America in the final, Moyes said that the tour helped lay the foundations for the side's subsequent Champions League qualification.
Everton were stateside again last summer, fighting to a 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew, and suffering another defeat, this time on penalties, at the hands of Club America.
Everton's most famous celebrity fan also resides on this side of the Atlantic, although he is better known for boxing than soccer. Movie star Sylvester Stallone brought a touch of Hollywood to Goodison Park earlier this year, striding onto the field prior to a game and brandishing an Everton scarf. The actor, who is a friend of Everton shareholder and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, subsequently pledged his allegiance to the club.
