Everton plan Farewell to Goodison Festival

I saw my first game there in 1979, got some good memories — and some horrible ones too! :)

Just wondering, apart from the safety aspect with numbers, whether a stage set more centrally would be better rather than in one specific area.

Okay, it won't happen but I really really hope we do put in a solid season and win a good 30 points at least at Goodison.

We did improve our home form towards the latter part of the last campaign but I think I'm right in saying since 2020 we've been far too passive at home and lost to far too many teams that should never be leaving Goodison Park with all 3 points.

Have a strong season, that will be the best way to say farewell.

So many memories of good, and bad days, on Gwladys Street. I will miss the place but no sentimentality on my part, we should've moved years ago.

I just hope we can enter a new, bright era in the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock to enthuse a new generation of Blues.

But I am genuinely excited about the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and the new era that it (hopefully) represents. A steady climb up the table over the next few years will suffice.

YouTube quick show reel https://youtu.be/vKXE7EowS7g?si=89lLsqkS9BxrPrFo

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/6ZmiMARk0I833xC5g0vxCi?si=zZTVHzK3Tzihd4pFTsJFxQ

You could even download our LP for a measly fiver to support a struggling True Blue artist at https://thelunarpull1.bandcamp.com/album/the-workings-underneath

We play Future Yard, Birkenhead tomorrow night, if any of you are up for up, see https://www.seetickets.com/event/events-471-lunar-pull-album-launch/future-yard/2976659

Hopefully celebrating the wipeout of the Tory party!

It's going to be emotional at any given time, for any given one of us, at different times this season. I'm sure there will be times when the memories just smack us right in the face.

My first match against Altrincham, when I think it was John Connelly who got a broken leg. I remember coming from behind to score two very quick goals against Swindon Town (FA Cup replay) on a night I realised how special Goodison Park is under floodlights.

Andy King's goal, on a day I realized how special the Evertonians can make Goodison Park.

I could go on all day, but I'll finish with my last four special memories, starting with Dominic's header against Palace, Doucoure's thunderbolt against Bournemouth, Dominic again putting those red bastards to the sword.

But I'm going to finish with the most iconic moment since Dave Watson last picked up a trophy for Everton by remembering Richarlison with the flare on a day when the younger Evertonians had rallied around to make sure Everton,were gonna stay in the Premier League! 💙

If you need a covers band as support...

Plenty of teams move to new stadiums, I just hope it's not over-the-top teary Bill style, as Goodison hasn't seen "Everton" success for decades.

"You can check out but you can never leave…"

https://www.11v11.com/matches/everton-v-leicester-city-12-february-1977-83734/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd9KC5Jem1Y

Strangely enough or funny enough Liverpool lost their last home league game before an all-standing Kop was converted to an all-seater — 1-0 to the mighty Norwich City.

Our last ever European night at Goodison was a 5-1 thrashing by Atalanta.

I was 5 (1977) and it was a friendly against the Dutch side, Nijmegan.

I can remember everything about it except the score! Walking down County Road with my dad, with a bottle of Panda Pop each from the local newsagents (corner of Stuart Road).

Pork pie and a cup of tea that burnt my mouth at half time. The shock of seeing blokes pissing against the wall at the back of the stand!

Yep, jumpers for goalposts and all that…

The Grand Old Lady has been more Miss Faversham in recent years but that derby win will have blown away many a cobweb. We'll not forget you, Old Girl.

Too many great memories, too many great teams, too many trophies, too many goals and I'll admit, too many heartaches, wrapped up in your walls and on that sacred pitch, to do that.

I got my first season ticket when Howard Kendall became manager. The games that will live long in the memory are to many to list but seeing us lift the Football League title and parade it round the ground in 1985 was something I'll never forget, and obviously the semi-final against Bayern Munich was the best atmosphere I've ever experienced.

As Jim says, let's make our last season the hostile tough place to get a result it used to be. I'm going to miss the place but it's time to move on and for a new generation of Blues we've got a fantastic new stadium for them to make their own special memories. 💙

They had Mick Channon and Peter Osgood in their team. We spied them in the bar at Lime Street Station after the game, went for a chat and autographs.

They were great to us, then we were ordered out! Well, we were only 12 or 13!!

Just a day to reminisce and say goodbye.

Yes, the Old Lady is showing her age now and when Kenwright took over from Miss Faversham and brought in Denise Barrett-Baxendale as Estelle it really went to the dogs.

First visit, Boys Pen.

All stems from me being born in Moreton on the Wirral and my Dad, who worked on Birkenhead docks, taking me to a game in 1954.

Would like to have been at the Grand Old Lady celebrations but can't do both. I hope the Goodbye celebrations go well for those of you who attend.

Great stuff, your next project should be some decent anthems for the blue boys.

Really excellent.

To this day, I havent heard a roar like the one which greeted Bally's goal - Although I've been close a few times. The best thing about it was they had packed Anfield too. The Kopites were on the outside looking in - On big screens over there

I just looked it up on YouTube by typing in - Alan Ball, scores for Everton in 1967 FA cup v Liverpool. I hope somebody with the technical skills can find it and put up a link. It belongs on this thread. Especially for younger blues who have never seen it. Brilliant footage and a brilliant little song mocking Liverpool thrown in for good measure.

We don't just see what Bally meant to Goodison. We get to hear what Goodison meant to Bally.

"When I ran back to the center circle after scoring against Liverpool. Pure elation welled up inside me. I was thinking; I just love this place. I want this place forever"

The feeling was very definitely mutual

Argued and fell out with mates and my family regularly. But for those 90 minutes as the lads came out to Z-Cars, we all loved each other, all best of mates. Nothing mattered, we were all Blue Evertonians and when the ball hit the net we were as one.

Hated Everton when we got rid of Bobby Collins, hated them when we got rid of Alan Ball…, but on both Saturdays after loved Everton.

Majestic ground and majestic supporters and if we can bring half of that to the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, the good times will return.

Well, fucking of course we should do that but the band members once hated each other.

Graham Gouldman, I'm going to listen to the original 'For Your Love' right now.

A draw, Young's shirt in tatters... funny how little things stay fresh. Jimmy Gabriel ruffling my hair and saying something to me, though I never understood a bloody word!

Standing outside the pub with a packet of crisps, waiting, almost running down the valley... more pubs... more crisps...

Clutching on to a program, running down Scottie as last orders at the top of Penny were being called..

Pinning the program on a wall before I tried to sleep.

So many snippets from a place that would be forever family folklore for me on another day 9 years later, to bringing my kids with us to their first match and watching the wonder in their eyes.

I want to stand in Gwladys Street a final time, just on my own and remember my friends and family who never left, smiling, laughing, their cheers now only heard by me. How much has it meant to be a Blue...

You made me remember the big clock on the floodlight tower in front of the church and how we would keep looking to see how long was left but the Welsh Wizard and the Golden Vision saw to it that time didn't matter.

I remember climbing over the fence at the Boys Pen and running onto the pitch in 1963 after we beat Fulham to win the league.

I remember the derby matches when we were like sardines in the Gwladys Street with what felt like 100,000 and if somebody wanted to pee they just warned everyone and created a space. You couldn't possibly get out to go the toilet.

I remember that "Bayern night" and an atmosphere I have never felt before or since.

God we will miss the old girl and all her memories.

I remember that too, sitting on my uncle's shoulders, standing in front of the old Directors Box on the pitch cheering as the trophy was held high.

Puff the Welsh Dragon, Roy Vernon never had a cigarette out of his mouth!

Where's your handbag, Gordon (West)?

I saw 10cc at the Top Rank in 1973. They were a tight band and they had a good sound. Queen opened for them and they stole the show, at least in my opinion.

I was able to take good photos because the lighting was excellent and several of them were published in "Sounds", the weekly music tabloid.

That Bayern night was incredible. The football we played in the '60s under Harry Catterick was a pure pleasure.

Watching us win our first league title at Goodison in 1915 thanks to all those goals from Bobby Parker when I was just a teenager, is a memory I will take with me to my grave.

'Kin 'ell Brian, you're doing well!!

Then back on Saturday we beat the mighty Colchester 5-0, through to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

My first 2 games we score 11 goals, then Panathanikos do us on away goals, I think, and kopites of course knock us out in semi-final!

My 1st game was in 1986 in the Upper Bullens, a 6-1 win against Arsenal with Linekar getting 2. Sadly no highlights available as there was a dispute at the time with the TV companies I believe.

I got home from the game to find our family had been hit by disaster. My brother Charlie’s daughter, 7 year old Sarah, our little London mascot throughout our Wembley trips of the mid-80s, had died.

To say that football was irrelevant is an understatement. Yet, within a day, our family decided that we should be at Goodison on the Wednesday night for the replay, so family and friends, including my brother, did just that.

I’ve never been at an event that was so meaningless, yet so important at the same time. I was wracked by dilemma throughout the night - I could not stomach the thought of defeat, but could not bear the prospect of us winning, with the celebrations a victory would bring to Goodison.

The stadium produced a little miracle of compromise - a nonsensical, crazy 4-4 draw, with 4 equalisers for the Blues. Somehow, Goodison threw a cloak of small comfort over us.

A few weeks later, Charlie told me he was starting a charitable fund to purchase musical instruments for the pupils at Sarah’s school, and asked me to help him organise a Sportsman’s Dinner to raise money. My Dad had a tenuous link with Duncan McKenzie, so I phoned Duncan and asked him if he would speak. He could not have been more helpful, and immediately agreed. “Have you got an M.C. for the night?” he asked. “You need the best - I’ll ask Midge”.

So, the errant referee took on the role, was fabulous at it, and neither he nor Duncan would take a penny for what they did.

There have been so many memorable occasions at Goodison Park since I first attended in 1963, but that night was something special for our family. Some say the place is bricks, mortar and steel, but I have no doubts about the spirits that float around the place - I hope they find their way safely to our new home.

That Keflavik game was a sickener for me listening to The Gwladys Street end booing and jeering Gordon West after an error which gave the opposition a goal.

He stood well away from his goal line, near the penalty spot, to escape the ridiculous and unworthy wrath of his own fans.

I have never forgotten that night.

Never looked back despite all the shite served up over the last few years.

First game was the 6-0 Latch 30 goals v Chelsea, second game 8-0 Wimbledon in League Cup, third game 1-0 Andy King derby. All as a 6-year-old. Still takes my breath away.

Over 30 years later, I took my 4-year-old to his first game, 1-0 Fellaini header v Man Utd under lights.

Too many highlights to mention. Bayern still the ultimate night. Sat with my dad on the barriers in the Gwladys Street at the start.

Now I sit with him, my son, my niece and nephew in the Top Balcony. It's my favourite place in the whole wide world.

Charlie will be right on your shoulder at BMD.

LCAB

I recall that sad time so well. As I've told you before, Charlie was a good friend to me in my days in St Helens. I'll always recall meeting him in his rather grand office with the threadbare carpet and the huge photo of Goodison behind his chair.

And the conversations with him and Father Ashton. And I thought I was an Evertonian!
.

Thank you

I hope so, the bricks on the street end would match well with my place. The extension planned for my gaff would look even finer with 10k bricks from Goodison Park.

Certainly better than crushing for hardcore and those girders as lintels, wow!!

Tony #44, let's hope the Club can be as important to others.

Mike #43 - Thank you.

I think that quote from Alan Ball was made when he scored two goals in his first derby game at Goodison in a 3-1 win, Sandy Brown got the other goal as a sub playing centre forward in a shirt that had no number on it.

That is a dirty stinking unsubstantiated lie, I never forget any body's birthday.

I might forget to send them a card but that's a different matter!

I might forget to send them a card but that's a different matter!

Like James my wife looks after me on birthdays and other incidentals.

Like for many, it's going to break my heart leaving the place that we have all experienced so many memories.

I would suggest the club put the last game on the big screens at the new Everton stadium.

Give Goodison a send off Everton. She deserves it.

Had great memories from all of them but have been lucky enough to make the move/s to bigger and better which is exactly how I look at the move to BMD.

I can't wait, and just hope I get as good a seat (positionally) as I have now in Goodison, which I'm not 100% sure I will.

UTFT.

Some Evertonians will only ever know Goodison.
Some Evertonians will only ever know The Fourth Grace at Bramley-Moore Dock.

If you are lucky enough to be making the transition in about a year's time, then you should consider yourself very lucky.

Our move is a once-in-a-lifetime moment which (for me anyway) is going to feel both exciting and devastating. I think.

I know the move is for the best in the long term but how hard is it going to be at the Southampton game when it's time to leave the ground after the final, final whistle has blown?

It doesn't bear thinking about.

To be fair mate, If I'm in a quiz, I want the fella who remembers Sandy Browns OTHER derby goal in my team.

More than happy for the fella who remembers everyones birthday to be in another team