An excellent contribution to our collection of personal stories about the leaving of Goodison.

Thanks for this.

Its history will never be forgotten, from Dean, Collins, Vernon, Young, Ring, Labone, Ball, Kendall, Harvey, Latchford… the fabulous Kendall kingpins in the '80s, Royle's FA Cup win.

It could have seen so much more honours, but for the ban… sorry to finish on a sour note.

Thank you, Andy.

David Squires has done an excellent cartoon in The Guardian today which also got me going. Check it out.

But it hurts and it's been building up for a while. From afar, it's going to be emotional. For this ex-pat, Goodison has always felt more like home than anywhere else.

I can't really think of any life experience that compares to these two extremes. Excitement and devastation don't typically go together.

It's going to be an emotional week, let alone on the day itself. There probably won't be a dry eye in the house come Sunday inside the old girl, around County Road and in the city centre. I'm starting already.

It feels like a father walking his daughter down the aisle and handing her over to make a new life.

We've all got our memories. The great ones. The bad ones. But they will always be there and never go away.

I had a season ticket up to when I left Liverpool. Stole my seat when we won the league in 1970.

Scared of heights when the new stand went up, I was bit worried when my dad said "I wonder how long it would take you to hit the pitch if I throw you over the balcony?"

I've written a chant to Goodison, to the tune of Tina Turner's Simply The Best:

You're Goodison Park, better than all the rest, stood the time and stood the test
The grand old lady, simply the best

You're Goodison Park, you brought us cups, you brought us leagues
All the fame and all the cheers
Seen us through 133 years

You're Goodison Park, better than all the rest, stood the time and stood the test
The grand old lady, simply the best

You're Goodison Park, been with us since 1892
Through you we are forever blue
That's why we'll not forget you

You're Goodison Park, better than all the rest, stood the time and stood the test
The grand old lady, simply the best
You're Goodison Park.

Most of the last 2 seasons, I've walked out the old lady muttering to myself "I'll be glad to see the back of this bastard place, it's cursed."

Home defeats, goalless games — I couldn't wait to get off and go and sink a few in the Harlech doing the post mortem with the boys.

But now that it's only a few short days away, I'm starting to get quite emotional about the place.

I'll miss the lads and lasses who sit near me, all great people and I'm sure we will meet again at the new cathedral, but it won't be the same.

Gonna be hard on Sunday but, as my youngest brother said last night, it's time to move now, and he's 💯 right.

Great read that, Andy, and old girl, thanks for the memories.

Goodison has always been a refuge for me especially during the trials and tribulations life throws at you.

It's a place of family for me. I still go with 3 generations (my dad and his grandkids). Took my sister to her first ever game when she 9 when we picked up the League trophy in 1987. Now I sit next to her daughter.

Makes me laugh when people denigrate women for their lack of football knowledge just for being, well, women. Those 2 know just about more than anyone.

We will all be sitting together at BMD but it will take sometime to re-create the memories we've shared.

The club just announced the ladies team will play there from next season.

Goodison Park set to be the new home for Everton Women

Much talk of taking seats. I didn't have a seat in the Gwladys Street. I got in early with my mates just above the ledge to get a decent speck on the terrace right in front of the goal.

Tieing my brother on the front barrier of the ledge with a scarfe. Checking on him at half time and picking him up at full time.

Memories that will live forever. But now we look to the future that awaits.

Great memories from attending my first game around 1959 with my dad, grandad and uncle, all sadly passed now, to running on the pitch after climbing over the Boys Pen in 1963 when we won the league beating Fulham.

The 60s were the best time of my life with my hero Roy Vernon, the golden vision, Bally, Chico Scott, Alex Parker etc.

Briefly threatened to repeat in the '70s with another league title with what was supposed to be the best Everton side ever with Ball, Harvey, Kendall and Joe Royle.

Then absolutely superseded by the magnificent '80s with too many great players to mention and that never to be forgotten Bayern Munich night.

I won't be there myself, but this was a lovely read.

50/50 on shinpads

My first game was with my dad when I was 6 and the scarf was and always has been round my wrist.

I took my wife to the pre-season in Sydney last year. After 40 years together, she finally saw me at an Everton game and gets it.

This is our home league record against them since my first game at The Old Lady in 1974:

P49 W11 D22 L16 F49 A64 PTS 55 (x3pts) 44 (x2pts)

‘Umpteen victories’?

That’s a win rate of 22.44%.

Our ‘glory years’ in this respect were not 1984-87 but 1992-94.

I hated them at home more than I hated them away.

I was so fecking hammered at the Rush Derby that I thought it was 0-6 (I was in the Street End behind the goal!) and was made up when we got back to the Prince of Wales on Stanley Road to meet up with our red mates to find out that it was only 0-5.

'Is anyone else wearing a full kit, shirt, socks, shorts, the lot on Sunday? 50/50 on shinpads'

John Terry perhaps... 😀

One thing I'm sure of — there will be tears. I truly believe the new stadium will bring on the resurrection of our great club… but the leaving of Goodison Park will bring a devastating and soul-destroying pain to my heart and soul.

How I wish I had a Tardis! The passing of time, memories, sights, sounds and smells, is a cruel price to pay for “longevity”.

I reckon I've 10 years left unless I drink cabbage soup and water for the rest of my days — in which case, 10 and a bit of miserable existence, but by god I hope (and expect tbh) we win something in that time!

If not — I wish we could stay at “home”!

I thought I was ready for this. I really don't think I am ready for this.

I don’t know why it wasn’t my first game, or one later, it was Fulham in 63

I’m sure those around me must have wondered why I was just standing there mouth open whilst everyone else was cheering the team onto the pitch?

Weird

I doubt that you will but it is a good option, meanwhile pray that you get a ticket from somewhere! Best wishes that you do along with Danny and a few more genuine Everton Bluenoses.

I don't think I can carry enough tissues to help out fellow Evertonians.

I just hope, and will pray and confide with my dog, that the team show up, win and send to Old Lady off before she passes time to the new girl.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2025/may/15/tony-bellew---gethin-jones-to-host--end-of-an-era--ceremony-at-goodison-park-farewell/

I will understand if supporters take to the pitch, but for once, I hope they don't.

Let the former players on, Paul McCartney (apparently) singing.

If they do, I wouldn't fancy their chances against the Toxteth born, Wavertree Bomber.

Randomly but on the subject of Liverpool boxers, Shea Neary, the "Shamrock Express". Kensington raised (Liverpool, not Chelsea!!) born, but close to his Irish roots.

Fought in St George's Hall, which I didn't realise, a few times at Everton Park and then the one in Stanley Park when he wore blue gloves. His opponent wore red.

There is a film, which I need to dig out.

I was the black sheep (can you still say that?) of the family. The chosen one. The anointed one. Butt of ridicule and scorn. But I didn’t give a toss. Despite all the piss taking and dirty looks, I stood tall and carried on.

Do I have regrets? You bet your life I do. In hindsight, would I change my choice? Not on your Nelly!! I would’ve missed seeing the Holy Trinity in all their splendour. Watching Labby lead the lads out onto the hallowed turf. The excitement of feeling a renaissance happening with the likes of Wood, Pejic, Dobson, King, Mckenzie, Thomas, Latchford etc…

I followed from afar the glory days of the 80’s unable to watch any games in my usual speck on Gwladys st. And for the last 30 odd years, with a few exceptions, it’s been tough going trying to keep the faith. But this is what makes us Evertonians. A special breed

Old blue eyes summed it up perfectly for with his classic, My Way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it MY WAY

Could this be our song for BMD?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/z9dcarbihm/goodbye-goodison

I'll miss the old bird.

Joke by the way. Comedy isn't my strong point, so don't take it the wrong way.

Let's hope we all enjoy the occasion and bring the points home one last time.

I might have done a slightly tipsy version of My Way

You would outdo McCartney.

Is there any other version of My Way?