Everton has been calling Goodison Park home since way back in 1892, hosting more top-flight football than any other stadium in the country. Today marks the end of an era as the club’s men’s team plays their final game at the ground affectionately known as the “grand old lady”.
The atmosphere around Goodison Park is filled with nostalgia as the club and community gear up for the game against Southampton. Fans are already gathering outside the 39,414-seat stadium, some scrambling for last-minute tickets while others take in the final stadium tours of the season. Among those on the tour is Rachel, a devoted Everton supporter who has witnessed some of the team’s greatest victories, including the memorable 1995 FA Cup Final win against Manchester United.
“It’s an emotional place,” Rachel reflects. “Goodison, even on bad days, it’s a place to be. It’s just everything we do and everything we believe. Goodison’s always been there.” Her passion for the club runs deep, with tattoos dedicated to Everton, including their Latin motto “Nil Satis Nisi Optimum” inked on her right arm. Rachel’s love for the team was instilled by her parents, both resting in Anfield Cemetery, overlooking the stadium they cherished.
Inside Goodison Park, preparations are underway for the farewell game. The players’ shirts are neatly arranged in the dressing room, while the groundsmen diligently tend to the pitch. Known for its electric atmosphere, especially during fierce derbies against Liverpool, Goodison Park stands out as one of the few remaining old-style stadiums in the top flight.
Graham Stuart, who graced the Everton team from 1993 to 1997, reminisces about the incredible atmosphere of Goodison Park. “It’s an incredible atmosphere,” he muses. “You need a bit of steel about you to play at Goodison Park, the fans will tell you if you’re not playing well, but they’ll also give you a chance and back you all the way. If I could do it again, I’d love to.” As Stuart shares his thoughts, another Everton legend, Peter Reid, passes by. Reid, a key player during the club’s European and domestic successes in the 1980s, joins a host of former players invited to today’s game.
A stone’s throw away from Goodison Park sits the Winslow Inn, a pub steeped in Everton history. Adorned with pictures of the team’s greatest players, the pub is managed by Dave Bond, a lifelong Everton fan who crossed the seas from Ireland to run the pub in 2014. As the club prepares to move to their new ground at Bramley Moore Dock, named the Hill Dickinson Stadium after a local law firm, fans like Bond hope to keep their matchday traditions alive. The Winslow Inn plans to offer a shuttle bus for fans traveling from the pub to the new stadium next season, keeping the spirit of Goodison Park alive.
Today’s farewell game at Goodison Park will be a mix of celebration and sorrow for many. The momentous occasion will be filled with joy, but as fans go through the turnstiles for the last time, it will undoubtedly tug at the heartstrings. However, this ending signifies a new beginning, as Goodison Park transitions to become the largest dedicated women’s football stadium in the UK, housing Everton’s women’s team. The legacy of the first purpose-built football stadium in England will live on in a new chapter of history.
