A day to never be forgotten

My late dad Michael was a Blue and so I am a Blue – and so my 2 sons are Blues… and we are all working on their children to ensure they follow the family line. My first game was 62-63 season. Could have been Sheffield United for a birthday treat.

Six years later, my dad got season tickets but, by 1972, it was “I am not paying that much to watch that rubbish”. Then work, moving away, family, and finally Mike Walker and the 1990s (Joe Royle years excluded) meant my wife hated springtime and her morose husband.

So when it came to the first game in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock – it was a "must do". My remembered life has had Everton running through it like a Royal Blue thread. Only guaranteed way was hospitality.

If you have not seen it elsewhere, “Kids, what do you want? A few hundred pounds extra after I have died or a memory that will last forever?” The more sporting nut of them was away on holiday but the younger one joined me for what was one of the best days ever.

We met at Lime Street Station and got a taxi. They do still exist. Pleasant Liverpool fans that is. I asked if he was a red as he would not get a tip if he was but he was great and wished us the best, so he got the tip anyway.

Not one bad word from him apart from towards the council who had not put in a designated taxi area for drop off or pickup. I had been to the Roma game but the sight of the stadium just knocked my son for six. It is amazing.

We wandered over to the fan plaza and found the stone in memory of my late dad. We spotted a blue rose that had been laid on one of the stones. My son noticed the Archibald Leach design on the top of the railings.

We spotted that some of the original paving has been left, as have the railway lines. Sorry, Michael, we forgot to go to your memorial. You would have loved Sunday and I hope we did your memory proud on 26 minutes. We just said "This is what Everton is all about. We know our history."

The club shop was manic and we made our purchases: my son a shirt and a first kit for his daughter’s 4th birthday next year; me to get 'Limpar 17' on the back of the ’95 Cup Final shirt my other son had bought at the Roma game. With his mum from Sweden, who else could he choose? In the buzz, I forgot I was going to buy Dunc’s book to read on holiday, and the 1892 shirt. Ah well, next time.

Into entrance 18 which was neatly hidden between 17 and 19. I thought it was another entrance to the club store. Duh! Then, which of the 3 emails with the tickets that Seat Unique had sent, do I use? I got a fourth while in Trinity Place Restaurant and the fifth arrived on the Monday after the game. Something about organising a party in a Brewery came to mind.

I won’t go into the detail (thank goodness, I hear you say) about the restaurant, except to say we had our dessert after the match. I am sure it will be better by the Sunderland game. But the food was good, when it finally arrived, which was a nice surprise.

Great conversation at the table with Nicole, Dean and Noah from Baltimore. Noah started supporting Everton after watching Tim Howard’s goal against Bolton. We told him he did not choose, he was chosen. They are taking that one back to the States.

First time watching the team in the flesh, so I told him as we had won, he could come again. We just about made it out to the seats in time for the siren. And the noise was just incredible. I even have goosebumps now as I type.

When the teams came out, I remembered all those days with my dad at Goodison Park, looked at the magnificent new stadium, and I shed a tear or two…. I am a grown man, for goodness’ sake! But that is what Everton does to you. And the view was wonderful. We were on a front row so had a plate glass wall, totally uninterrupted and very different to our last visit to the Old Lady.

I was nervous about Brighton. I predicted 2-0 but years of supporting Everton takes it toll and that was 2-0 to them. At least it could only be better. They are a good footballing side but it became clear they had nobody up top. The wingers were a problem and as always Everton are just one moment away from messing it up.

And then Grealish belts a hard cross and Ndiaye is there to finish. I was so glad my son was there. With no other close friends I could think of to go with who weren’t Reds (my Blue friends already had tickets), how could I have hugged and hugged one of those Red friends when we scored?

Half-time beckoned when Tarkowski had a brainfart. Told you: Everton always let you down. Pickford – you wonderful man! Watched the replay and Tarkowski puts his hands to his head when he sees what he had done.

Ten minutes is not very long to empty my tank and get another drink and the next thing the TVs are showing the players are back out. Then the rocket from Jimmy Rockford (one for the oldies that one; if you are too young, ask your dad), set up once again by the mercurial Jack Grealish.

Grealis is miles better than the last winger called Jack. It was the way he just rolled the ball with his foot but also when he went chasing back in the first half with an important block. Was he the only player with dirty shorts by the end of the game? He was magnificent.

Ndiaye is another one to get you out of your seats. Gana we thought was superb and so often the one who broke down their attack (fouled for the Welbeck miss?). Barry was good and linked up play well.

Michael Keane… Where did you learn 50-yard pinpoint passes? And with our wingers on the wing, he could because the full back was not man-to-man marking and giving them 20 yards of space in which to drop the ball.

But it would not be Everton if it was easy. A harsh penalty and "Oh no, this will be 2-1" – and a very nervy last 15 minutes. So well done for the long delay to get into Welbeck’s head – at that point, you knew Pickford was going to save it. Cue more wild hugging of son.

After that, Brighton knew it was not their day, even being very un-Brighton by sending the centre-half up top. Final whistle and yet more hugging. We had won. We are up and running. 3 points better than last season and +5 on the goal difference and all the bad luck that we seemed to have at Goodison Park looked as though it had been left there. Sorry Ladies.

Aware that a mum was expecting her husband home to help put the kids to bed, we said our goodbyes to our new American friends, a last mouthful of corporate hospitality, and started looking to get back. Traffic along Great Howard Street was awful and we finally found a taxi about a mile from the ground.

Then 4 lads asked where we were going and when we said Lime Street, they asked, "Can we join you, we’ll pay." Thanks, lads. And when I told them the offer I had made to my kids, one said “You’re the best dad ever”. Thanks. That was nice and made me feel even more special after a wonderful day.

I never made it to the last time we had a new ground and I won’t make it to the next – but I will never forget Sunday and this new stadium. A day to never be forgotten.

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