End of an era - Goodbye Goodison

Kind of hard to process. The next time I watch Everton I'll have a 'new' feeling instead of feeling like I'm home.

Onwards and upwards. Goodbye old lady.

'1,653 goals have been scored in 633 Premier League games on this ground.'

What about the period before?

I'm lucky enough to have been a teenager in the '80s and witnessed some of our greatest moments but, for too long, there has been precious little to cheer about at Goodison.

Whilst new grounds aren't always the magic solution, we've got to hope that the new owners, the new ground and the increase revenue that brings along with a refreshed squad and Moyes's experience, might just be the combination of changes we need.

Highlight for me was the Andy Gray headers and team performance v Sunderland, happy blues everywhere in the sun that day. Roberto Matinez's first season and the performance v Arsenal.

One of the worst lows for me was on the FA Cup defeat 0-3 by Wigan. I've never seen the Goodison crowd so angry.

Looking forward absolutely for a new start.

It was the sight of so many blues in the crowd with tears in their eyes that touched me. So many memories for so many wonderful people.

Let's add to them at our new home. Very excited to visit next season with my 2 sons and to have a seat where we can actually see the game and soak up the atmosphere.

The Old Lady has. after all. been the Grand Dame of the world's football grounds for many years. She was born towards the end of the 19th Century
and has spent all but three of her years in hosting football at the highest level.

During her life, she has helped provide countless moments of magic and drama which will live forever in the minds of those who witnessed them. She has hosted

FA Cup semi-finals, and uniquely a World Cup semi-final. Many of football's greats have graced her turf: Pele, Eusebio, Gento, Yashin, Matthews, Finney, Best, Charlton, and Ronaldo to name but a few. Not forgetting our own Dean, Ball and Southall.

She loved the stars but everyone, whatever their ability, was warmly welcomed. Her legion of friends and admirers extended world wide.

Sadly, though, the Old Lady is not being laid to rest. Her present custodians believe there to be some social and economic benefit in keeping her alive
for a few more years.

In truth, she has been in poor health for many years, only being capable of welcoming half the number of friends compared to her heyday. To keep her alive, she will now suffer the pain and indignity of major surgery on her weak and decaying limbs.

Goodbye Goodison, you'll always be remembered.

Kunal, the violin was moving, perhaps more than the Last Post-esque as someone put it.

The end was not managed as such, but this final curtain was for the fans, and largely by the fans, so it was fitting that the fans voices were heard, today was another first in our history.

£13M of additional league merit payments, plus the new revenues from Bramley-Moore Dock with sponsorship & gate.

Hopefully the start of the transformation starts this summer.

Got there 9 am and not long back. Great to see so many ex-players and focussing predominantly on the crowd making Goodison a special place. Messages from Judi Dench and Sylvester Stallone for a bit of showbiz.

I didn't notice anyone leave, the ground was still pretty well full at the end, quite a few Southampton supporters as well.

The streets around Goodison will take some sweeping up tomorrow. An emotional day.

I today learnt that the CEO of Hill Dickinson is a season ticket holder of 30 years.
He forwent a corporate box ticket today, in order to take his usual seat at the last dance of the Grand Old Lady.

A big positive that the CEO of Hill Dickinson is one of us I feel. As Moyes said on the pitch, the owners, TFG, will have seen today and need to back him this summer in the transfer market, to get us upwardly mobile towards where we feel we belong.

Well done Everton and Blues everywhere.
UTFT. 💙

Known him for 25 years+ when he started out with Mike Prince at DLA Piper.

Who knows, we may end up kicking the girls out for a few months and going back there if we need to add a new stand in the future.

Partnering with a top class company with commercial acumen and local presence and a history even older than ours. It's amazing really, I think.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium! Up the Toffees! NSNO! May that be a motto that is more appropriate in future than it has been for far too long.

Kevin (15). I totally agree. For me, I am pleased I can go to both Goodison Park and Hill Dickinson Stadium to watch matches in future.

There is too much history there. Ted Sagar, Dixie Dean etc! Not only did they grace the pitch — they are in the pitch.
God bless them and all Toffees everywhere.

Inter Milan in 63
Ujpest Dozsa a bit later
Clive Thomas
That baldy Italian ref
Losing Neville on international duty
All those people not from Liverpool pushing walls over
Mike Walker…

But we get up and we're still here. Keep the faith.

The ground has however been a major part of my life, from my first visit in 1972 at the age of 15 to my last visit today. I tried to count the number of matches I have seen there and think somewhere around 100 which is dwarfed by the number of times I have seen the boys play away in London and the south of England.

Despite this, Goodison is part of me, far more important than the statistics above suggest that if should be. The excitement I felt just approaching her, being amongst ‘friends' who I didn't know from Adam. Such cameraderie, such history, so many memories, good and bad.

I'm too old now for the new ground to ever mean a fraction of what Goodison means to me. I can only imagine how you local fans feel. COYB wherever you play. UTFT

Spurs fans were cheering the goal, Nev had better ideas.

But that's not very important. The real part of the day for me was walking onto Goodison Road, past the Winslow, just feeling it.

Entering the ground. Up the stairs. Into the arena. Embracing people you only know once a fortnight. A good win (other than Séamus scoring, Ndiaye would have been my choice).

Looking around the ground, remembering which game I saw from where, over the years.

Now, let's move on.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/4311866

Great post Peter (20): I'm glad you had this last time there with so much meaning.

Sadly, I agree, with months and months to plan it I thought that the 'after-match stuff [was] poor'.The lovely solo violin showed us what might have been. We get to see the players walking round the ground with their families at the end of every season. It's such a shame that such a poor lot were the last Everton men's team to play at The Old Lady.

It seemed lop-sided to me. It should have been the 'legends' (erm, I know, Cadamartrie etc.) who basked in the glory in the last segment not today's team who should have been sat down applauding past greats walking round the ground for the faithful to love.

Some nice compilations, some nice words, and yes it is always nice to see the lads and their wives and kids. The last-post Z-Cars was touching. But most of the best bits were not made or planned by the club. They were created and carried out by our brilliant fans.

And a final word on our celebrity hosts. Bellew of the Kenwright clan fucking bugs me. Isn't it about time he got a riverside gaff in Henley-on-Thames next door to Tarby? He's also responsible for that fecking siren which hopefully does not get to travel 2.2 miles to Everton Stadium.

And who the feck is this Gethin Jones?

The sound was terrible.

Don't understand why the new owners did not attend today - not even a video message was quite poor.

I thought the post match was okay but smacked of last-minute thinking. Right down to really having no streaming plans for people outside of the UK and entrusting it to TNT, who failed miserably.

Probably a tough one to get right, regardless. I still don't really know what mood I'm in.

If there was, it would not have been written by him but for him. Friedkin has made no effort to visit or understand us. He is, as one poster on here constantly reminds us, a super great Yank corporate business cutthroat who buys and sells things. Friedkin is a modern-day Mammon who cares about one thing above everything else: the Yank $$$$$$$$$$$

But the physical absence shows indifference, an unwillingness to engage, and a complete lack of interest in our history and culture at one of the truly watershed moments of us and who we are.

But, hey, don’t listen to me, let’s hear it from the mouth of the man himself (or, needless to say, his ghost writer):

‘“I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, The Friedkin Group. Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution … we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world … We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city”.

This, of course, is our fella Friedkin in his hello “letter”. “We fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world … but I am not sure whether my schedule and travel plans will allow me to be with you on May 18, but remember that I will be thinking of each and everyone of you [as] we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution”.

Don’t fucking insult us Friedkin lad or at least do not try to be what you are not. Just take the sponds. But in today’s/yesterday’s message to us all, Friedkin did make an effort to express and understand our “local culture” and “lives”, writing:

“Alright Whack! I’m sound as a pound over here like, been shopping for clobber (not as good as Greaties), got some good kecks and just had some boss scran. Me head’s chocka, just saying, with all this capitalism la and Roma leaving Stadio Olimpico today. I do feel custy like after jibbing off the knobheads who tried to buy our historic football club and its boss legacy. They all got a cob on but I just swerve them like. It would be dead sound to be there with you in Italy, but like I said I’m chocka and it’s our kid’s birthday tomorrow and I’ll be on the bevvy all day la. G’wed one and all and have a boss day. Without yer kecks on.

Yosser Friedkin

To be fair, there was a full video of the "closing ceremony" on YouTube within minutes of it ending.

I know what you mean about smacking of last minute... but they probably had to strike a balance on what they could do, against the risk of having to clear everyone off sharpish if people had entered the pitch area (and well done to the fans for not).

Introducing ex-players, many who were legends, with some that most would wish to forget, was haphazard and indistinct. Some, although aged were instantly recognisable, where others were left with questions "Who is he?"

The second half was a let down too, but at least we got the points.

All early indications are that his intention is to fully finance the club and stadium, hire smart people and let them do their jobs.

Just what we hoped for all these years.

Yet one chronically sneering Merseyside emigrant here frothingly rages at said new owner because he is, per the recurrent four-letter pejorative, a Yank (cursed be the very idea!). That's right, he is a product of the country in which said sneering emigrant has chosen to reside and make his living lo these many years.

Ya couldn't make it up.

Watching the end again, I think I've been unfair. That last part was a beautiful plan. Z-Cars being used in a similar way to the Last Post, straight into the first notes of In My Life, and then Z Cars again as the Rouse.

But from Bill Ryder-Jones, it sounds like In My Life got compromised by someone letting the fireworks off too early! It did seem a bit weird at the time. Did we even need fireworks in the daytime?

Would this be the same Mr.G who said, was it last week, that he was not offended by 'Yank' but now it is 'pejorative'. Ya couldn't make it up. And like you Mr.G., I don't think or use Yank' in pejorative mode. I don't give a shit being called 'pom' or 'limey'. It's what in my city we call banter, but you wouldn't understand that.

'Yank' is the very very least of reasons for LOL 'sneering' against someone so 'deeply committed [who] fully understand[s] the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world', that deeply disrespected the club and us today/yesterday.

So, as with so much of what you spill in one of your little tizzies, you get angles in so wrong in your furious rush.

I am not a 'product' of 'merica la. When I arrived here with two Oxford University Press books under my belt and a near decade at Cambridge, I was given an accelerated green card within 6 months as quote 'A significant addition to American arts and letters'. Think about that, sunshine. I was seen as bearing gifts.

You need to stop obsessing about me, touchy one.

On another Yank note: Awful news about Joe Biden and I hope that he wins this, one of many of life's battles that this decent man has had to face.

Sorry, no idea how the blue underlines appeared,

“I hope the owners are recognising what they're seeing today, as well, because this is to be built up, brought back and [we need to] get us back to where we belong and where we believe we should be".

I'd agree, Peter, the Winslow was dressed up as were many of the places around Goodison.

Pre-match I also like it when, as well as the usual play list, they put on the La's There She Goes. Those words could have been written for that occasion. The crowd sang along and I was impressed how many knew the words!!!

I thought that Moyes was dead astute and chose his words carefully but, of course, Friedkin decided to disrespect the club and us by staying away. Did he even bother to appear on video, Danny?

I'm guessing it's been a TikTok tune at some point. Seems to be how most of the youngsters learn older songs.

Most of a certain age will know it, but the subtitle lyrics are there, although it's quite simple.

Very unique sound and lead vocal voice the La's.

Link

I get this when - and it happens more than you might think - when one of my students shows up in class with a Joy Division or proper Clash teeshirt on and I tell them that I saw JD live 5 times, once at Erics, and Joe and the lads 17 times, three times at Erics.

As I understood it, only the new investor, Jason Kidd planned to be there, but I don't know if he was.

You must be drained, Danny. Hope your Monday is restful.

They will have an affinity with Everton. That is why they bought the club. Everton seems a ready made fit for the way they operate and they are progressing seamlessly on all fronts.

Glad they are holding on to Goodison and backing Ladies football. It probably will help in relation to PSR and it is good if so that they are thinking in terms of football solutions. Something that has been lacking for years.

TFG will provide funds, but those funds will not be a substitute for performance demands for those in the jobs that they are getting well paid to do. That includes Moyes. I thought Moyes did not choose some of his words carefully.

Moyes probably didn't choose any words carefully, he had a football match to prepare for, having a mic stuck in his face at the end of the game on the pitch, probably wasn't part of his pre-match planning.

What irked you exactly? When he said the club was broken, and now it is less so?

"I thought Moyes did not choose some of his words carefully".

Jerome, would you care to enlighten us and go beyond your bland generalisation and explain why "Moyes did not choose some of his words carefully", especially after your love letter to the Friedkins. I love how you and the other fella know exactly what TFG are up to, even though the other fella posted last week that nobody knows what is going on behind closed doors.

I think that most of us welcomed the gaffer's words.

I recorded the whole programme so will have another look. I'd be interested to know what words he did not choose carefully, post 40???

I thought he handled his interviews very well.

Jerome, we've all had our views on Moyes, past and present, myself included. He's dropped a few clangers in his time, but not yesterday, and who hasn't?

But specially yesterday, I thought he spoke well.

I've never liked the People's Club tag.

You clearly have an agenda regarding Moyes and are beginning to sound a bit weird.

It's already very tedious, give it a rest.

I just feel that over-dependence on the summer transfer window is wishful thinking and don't feel that TFG will be pressurised into providing funds, other than what is necessary.

But, to be honest, I'm more concerned about your fawning Limmie and Family Cookin' 'You can do. magic' unintellectual or pragmatic approach to the absent disrespectful on this of all days Friedkin ghosts. Not even a fucking video message, I hear.

(I don't expect Wolves to come 13th, better to have the points than need them.)

He therefore has justified his appointment and salary.

It always amuses me that football only seemed to begin after 1992.

How dare he praise the late Bill Kenwright.

The after-match display did it's best and, considering the time limit and the enormous amount of equipment that was needed to get the show moving, wasn't too bad. Sometimes, a musical instrument can say a lot more than lyrics and the lady with the violin certainly did.

An end of a long era — I loved my time with the Grand Old Lady but hope we get a lot more happier times at The Bramley-Moore. Goodnight, God Bless, old girl from me.

The Friedkins missed a trick I think with not showing up. They'd have understood us so much better and we them. I admire their professionalism, I want their commercialism, I also want them to ‘get' Everton Football Club.

Owners come and go, you can only hope they do the right things, create the right platform. We are Everton Football Club. So many wonderful memories are etched at Goodison Park, they will never leave us.

We will take our pride, our passion, our love for this beautiful football club and we will make new wonderful memories on the banks of the royal blue Mersey.

Many things change, come and then go, Everton fans past and present made Goodison Park what it was and yesterday we gave our thanks.

It's difficult to be hard nosed when you're emotionally invested. Can you really pull the trigger and make an objective decision on something or someone you care about?

Bill had his limitations. Maybe also his ulterior motives. But Everton was a huge part of his life and yesterday would have been a tightly stage managed emotional affair.

He would have been there, front and centre, telling us how much he loved the club and the Old Lady and pulling every sentimental heartstring that he could.

You don't get that with Friedkin and I doubt he cares about 'getting' the club. But that might just be the better of the two approaches. Personally, I think I prefer it.

After 15 minutes of singing and flares being let off, there was booing from behind which got louder and louder, and it was for Richard Masters, the head of the Premier League; I have to say he had some bottle turning up.

The singing carried on then the announcement over the loud speaker that because of the crowds the coach carrying the players wouldnt be coming down Goodison Road. So it was off to the fan zone, I'd never been there before and it was great, 2 young lads singing Everton songs.

Then into the ground and walking up the steps to my seat in the Upper Bullens… and then it hit me: after 70 years, this would be the last time I would climb these steps to see the Boys play. Arriving at my seat, the club had put a comemorative scarf on every seat, a nice gesture.

The atmosphere was electric – it was as if you were at the World's biggest party but tinged with a hint of sadness. The DJ played the Elton John song I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues and what a fabulous rendition from all the fans who joined in.

I was feeling a bit choked at this point; then they followed this up with the La's hit There She Goes – again, with the accompaniment of the fans. And I have to say, that got to me a bit.

Then out came the players to the loudest version of If Ya Know Yer 'istory. Apart from a brilliant opener by Ndaiye, the game was largely forgetable and we ran out comfortable winners. The DJ said "Go and get yourself a drink before the parade of ex players and music would start."

Everton made a big thing of it at the end we had special permission to take our pints into the stadium. So I went down to buy a pint only to find they had sold all the alcohol before half-time ended, typical Everton.

Delighted to see my personal favourite, Tony Kay, leading the ex-players around the ground. The young lady started proceedings with her version of Z-Cars on the violin – it was beautiful.

After interviews with the ex-players and the manager, it was time to say goodbye to the Old Lady for one last time. Handshakes all round for those who had sat around me for the last few seasons, I didn't know their names but didn't need to – they were fellow Blues like me.

Goodbye, Goodison; most of my life has been spent going to you every other week, our Cathedral of noise.

You can show leadership, association etc whilst also maintaining a professional distance.

Interesting dilemma as you say.

The club will be run a lot differently, and I suspect more professionally.

You don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool Evertonian to run the club. There are quite few on here who could give that a go. But we are all to emotionally attached to make rational decisions.

I'm sure we'll see them make an appearance at the new stadium, but I don't expect to see them too often, not that I would get close.

They've put their own people in place, and I'm sure they will be given advice.

From various readings, he is renowned for having a ruthless streak and I think we can expect it.

TFG has been through 5 managers in 5 years at Roma and last year caused uproar by flying to Rome to personally dismiss club legend Danielle de Rossi after just 9 months in the job.

So the moral of that stor is, as and when he does pay a visit, there may be a nervous manager!!

I can't believe the guy who bought us couldn't get off his arse once during the 6-month window he had to visit Goodison Park for one of the home games. Let's be under no illusions about the new owners.

The Premier League saved us from the ghastly 777 baseball hats, who have since gone broke in the US.

Football is not the same game as when I started watching Everton. If you want to win cups domestic or foreign, then this is the only economic model we can follow. Let's face it, it's worked well for the other lot.

Surely they should all look exactly the same as they did on the day they retired.

For us to punch above our weight requires an investment of time and a vision, if these guys are just here to make money, that will inevitably show in how they go about recruitment. Just how determined will they be to get us the best if they can't even be bothered to visit the place?

I think that may have been behind Moyes slightly barbed comments yesterday. I'll bet he's very disappointed that they haven't had the decency to put their head around the door.

The Glazers have made all the same mistakes that Moshiri did.

When it arrived I couldn't see it for the blue smoke.

Got home looking like an extra from Avatar…

Of the old players I expected to see/hear mentioned I didn't catch any reference to either Colin Harvey or Kevin Ratcliffe. Did I miss them?

I don't want them on the pitch berating the manager, like the fat Forest owner, or on the phone every day, as Moshiri supposedly was with Brown Shoes Bobby.

Hopefully the new CEO is a good appointment, let him do his job and judge him on results.

I was in the Upper Bullens for many years. It's still my favourite place in the ground, partly because we had good teams in that period. My seat was in Row C, between the half-way line and the Gwladys Street.

An old man with a wooden leg sat in the front row and you could hear him coming down the steps to his seat.

I once took a rather large friend of mine to the game and, during the second half, we suddenly heard cries of ‘stop thief'. We looked up to see a man coming down the row towards us carrying a lady's handbag. My friend stood up and the man had nowhere to go. Eventually a policeman arrived and took him away.

My favourite footballing moment was Bob Latchford's penalty against Chelsea which took him to 30 goals. I had backed him at 100/1 at the start of the season. Most seasons, I back us to win the FA Cup so the bookmakers are well in credit!

Can't find the source for the information, even though I'm pretty sure I read it somewhere yesterday.

BMD may be magnificent but, if we ever needed reminding, what makes it special are the fans. So today I watched the post-match celebrations with more that a lump in my throat and tears on my cheeks, for it was the sheer pride in the fans that made it. The game took second place to the fans today.

So take that pride with you, make BMD special as only you can.

Well done all concerned with organising it.

Said he wasn't able to make the event on the day because he wouldn't be able to walk that much for that long. Not sure why Ratcliffe wasn't there.

John @67, I wonder if they left Goodison's last men's fixture to us the supporters and the former and current players? Having secured top flight status, I imagine their focus will the new stadium. I still wouldn't expect to see much of them. That's why they've put their own team in place to run the club.

In my experience, you only see or hear from a CEO or senior leadership if something has gone really well or it's going really bad. Obviously everyone has different styles, but to date, I think that's how they will operate in my opinion.

Rokas, I don't know the exact number, but it was rammed. It was visible in town before the match. Way more so than a normal home fixture.

He took the opportunity to remind the owners that they need to look at the events of the day and use it as a motivation to provide funds. He can't berate his employers in public and I think he was spot on.

I was ambivalent to Moyes coming back, but have been very impressed by him since returning with both team performances, and his talking about matters off the pitch.

The aerial photos did show the number in the streets around Goodison Park, with the commentator saying there were as many as 10,000 or so, who didn't have tickets but turned up for the atmosphere. I could well believe those claims!

Personally, I was very happy the new guys didn't crowbar themselves into a celebration of the past. It has nothing to do with them. They don't claim to be historic Everton fans (just as many of the players who are now spiritually enmeshed with the club admitted they weren't).

That doesn't mean they don't ‘get it'. It's perfectly possible they are simply focussing on delivering a better future, for which they will be able to accept real praise and gratitude.

He bought the club 6 months ago, and has never come within a thousand miles of the place. I don't need to tell you that Saturday was a momentous day for Everton. If the owner cared about or was interested in the history and ethos of Everton, he would have been there. That in my view is a reasonable conclusion to draw from his actions.

For him, Everton is strictly business. And you can see that from his appointment of our new CEO. His main skillset is maximisation of matchday revenue following a ground move. Lots of talk of cautious and pragmatic progress and non-committal goals such as 'making Evertonians proud'.

We won't ever be given 'facts' — we have to read the signs. Like Moyes yesterday, and his barbed comments about the owners: 'They can see what they need to do' etc. He's a little frustrated with them, I reckon, and is giving them a prod.

By way of contrast, John W Henry attended his first Liverpool game on 10th October, 4 days after agreeing to takeover Liverpool.

If you can tell me of another takeover of a Premier League club where the new owner has not shown up after 6 months, then fair enough.

Honestly, their lack of attendance since the acquisition is bizarre. And alarming.

It is great that TFG are intent on improving the commercial performance of the club; I would have thought engaging with the customer might deepen understanding.

There will be thousands of Evertonians who didn't attend yesterday but who could have if they'd felt it necessary. According to you we are all….. what?

Only idiots believe they have some special ability to judge people they've never met.

“By way of contrast, John W Henry attended his first Liverpool game on 10th October, 4 days after agreeing to takeover Liverpool.”

Oh my Goddd!!!! You're like, so right!!!

Give us 10 minutes and I'll fetch my pitchfork and burning brand and catch you up on the way to ousting the evil monsters!

No worries, run along and debate with the grown ups when your balls have dropped.

Mind you, when he sent his three sons over, it ended up with them being smuggled out of the ground and into riot vans for their own protection.

It's you and Kevin acting like the judgemental teenage girls. I was just trying to engage at your level.

I repeat, what do (either of) you have to say about any Evertonians who didn't bust a gut to attend yesterday?

“Only idiots believe they have some special ability to judge people they've never met.”

There you go, none of us apparently have the right to judge Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Saddam 'Hussain etc because…. we never met them!

Seek treatment.

I cannot think of another example of a new owner staying away so long but will stand corrected if someone can provide the facts.

There is also no correlation between Everton fans who did not attend the last game and the owner's non-appearance. The comparison is laughable.

Unless you are a season ticket holder, it has been next to impossible for fans to secure tickets for the last home games at Goodison – as any fan who has tried will confirm.

The new owner and his son could have attended any home game they wanted to since 19 December. They simply chose not to – and it wasn't because they have been working 24/7 on “delivering us a better future.”

Your agenda is showing and it's starting to become embarrassing.

"Just how determined will they be to get us the best if they can't even be bothered to visit the place?"

I wonder if you've ever heard of something called 'false equivalence'? Relating two concepts that have no connection… and in your case, then trying to make some huge mountain out of it.

The Friedkins didn't need to be there at the weekend. Yes, you wanted them there… although exactly why is not really clear as it has absolutely nothing to do with their on-going management of the club — and certainly nothing whatsoever to do with whom they may or may not bring in to bolster the playing squad.

And as for you claiming to know how Moyes thinks and what his words really mean... give it a rest, please.

"I was feeling a bit choked at this point then they followed this up with the La's hit There She Goes, again with the accompaniment of the fans."

The La's lead singer sits a few rows in front of us – he was choked all through.

A brilliant song and the fans did it justice, I think the lead singer of the La's is John Power. I wonder if he could write some different lyrics for us to sing at Dickinson Hill or Bramley-Moore Dock. Maybe "Here we are at Bramley-Moor again".

Bill Ryder-Jones, co-founder of the Coral, closed proceedings with a moving version of In My Life. “There are places I remember, All my life. ” Evertonians could not have loved Goodison more.

That's not to say that they will hopefully do the right things to get us higher up the League.

I don't believe I've said much about them for this past 6 months. But I did think they'd be there at the weekend.

I don't believe I did in fact 'claim to know how Moyes thinks'. I think I said I reckon he was by his words indicating that he was somewhat disappointed with them so far. Is that somehow beyond the pale?

I am impressed by your studious determination not to criticise others' conduct. I'm not sure you'll fit in here though. In the past, even the editors have stuck their oar in, loaded headlines, agendas, you know the sort of thing.

I wanted them there because it was an indication of their commitment to Everton. And basic good manners. They've not shown up once. To repeat. they've not shown up once. This 'concept' though, to you has no connection with or is evidence of the Friedkin's commitment to Everton.

I think most people would expect committed owners to show up once during their first 6 months of ownership, particularly when a countdown is underway to the departure from our iconic ground. The only other owner who has pulled a no show like this would seem to be Michael Glazer… which is also alarming. Or maybe it isn't, eh? Maybe these are all just coincidences. And to join the dots is just 'having an agenda'.

Absolute genius who famously said “Supporting Everton is the most Scouse thing you can do.”

Turn up, speak up and put up.

Steve #98, all that matters to me is the put up part. Honestly, I couldn't care less how often Friedkin turns up, and anybody waiting for him to speak up is likely to be waiting a very long time, because he doesn't do that. The CEO will be doing all the talking.

Some people like to speculate what this means (like me); some don't. One way or another, we'll know a lot more by the end of the Summer.

I won't be bothered though to have been proven wrong if we've spent like a drunken sailor on some excellent players. The mood music so far though, I'll be surprised if we push the boat out.

Actually, that's plainly untrue but just as ridiculous as some of the previous comments on here amidst all the sensible comments.

For me, yes, am surprised the owners weren't there... but understand some of the reasons for non-attendance made by some of the ToffeeWebbers. Perhaps they didn't want to feel part of the past.

However, I will be more surprised if they don't turn up at the new shiny place... which represents the future, even if they didn't build it and came in at pretty much the 11th hour.

Have to admit I didn't expect it to be so emotional. I don't mind admitting I didn't "get" some of the melancholy outpourings on TW in the build-up. Very glad I kept my mouth shut though (for once), as my feelings caught me by surprise. I realised just how huge a part of my life the Old Lady had been.

I was supposed to go into town with the lads "on the lash" afterwards but I walked, alone (by choice), into town and reflected. It was only then I realised that Derek Temple and Tony Kay were on the pitch for both my first ever game, and my last at Goodison.

Only 2 months ago, they appointed a new leadership team to run that aspect of Everton for them.

Everton has added to its Executive Leadership Team, confirming two new appointments.

Aaron Duckmanton joins the Club as Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, with Simon Hunter taking up the position of Chief Stadium Commercial Officer.

They will manage the marketing and commercial teams based on the direction they are given. They will manage down to the teams working for them and report up to the senior leadership team.

In the modern game, it's operation based on vision, strategy and setting of goals and objectives.

I think of it like the footballing side. We wouldn't expect to see them at Finch Farm. They have a DoF, Recruitment Team, Head Coach and a entire team to run that for them.

As I said, maybe on the other thread, a lot of the time (and put Everton to one side for a minute), senior leadership and owners get involved if it's going well with their investment, or it's sailing towards the waterfall without a paddle.

Some feel strongly about it, I am ambivalent. They will be here when they need to be. That's why they employ a probably very expensively accumulated executive board to run the day-to-day stuff for them.

I honestly find it heartbreaking to see my idols as old men now. Out of my sight, time caught them up, just like it has me and all those I have been lucky enough to share Goodison Park with.

Well done to the players and manager for holding their end up, massive pressure on those shoulders. I liked what Moyes said, "It's our job to make you happy". It really is that simple.

Time to look forward now. New memories need to be made.

Sorry, guys, got the wrong lead singer and songwriter of the La's. I won't forget his name again: Lee Mavers — and a passionate Blue as well.

This was a momentous day in EFC history, especially for those Evertonians who have been attending Goodison for many many years.

I don't give a shite if they spend £150 million in the summer. Absolutely should have been there or at the very least recorded a video message for the fans.

As frustrating as it was for me yesterday to not be able to watch the ceremony live, I figured the club would through for me with the video, and it didn't disappoint. Gave me chills.

Think only those two, and Big Joe and Alan Whittle are the only survivors of 1970? I'm certain someone will correct me

Phil (96): sorry if this was explained earlier, but what is the photo you're talking about mate?

"They will be here when they need to be". That day was undoubtedly [ie, not ambivalent] yesterday, Danny. I'm still trying to find out if that divisive NBA lad was there.

Paul, add John Mac Senior to Dave. The two wise Everton owls on these pages.

John was in the Harlech on Sunday, but unfortunately I just missed him. I met up with him and his Grandson before the Arsenal match.

As always, I pestered him with questions about players I never saw and who was the best Everton championship winning side.

Seems a close tie between 69-70 and 84-85, although there is apparently a shout for 62-63.

Oh to have the luxury of choice!!

Do you remember Harold Matthews Danny?

The Athletic reports:

Representatives of The Friedkin Group, which owns the club, took their seats in the directors box, including executive chair Marc Watts and vice-president Brian Walker. Members of the Friedkin family were also in attendance.

To the best of my knowledge, the only "members of the Friedkin family" involved in football are owner Dan and son/VP Ryan.

A good old ‘strawman’ argument.

What could be more similar than drawing conclusions no right minded person would disagree with about some people because of indisputably terrible things they plainly have done, and assuming you know everything about a person’s character because they haven’t acted according to some purity test code of conduct of yours that plenty of people wouldn’t understand?

I never said people can’t ever judge others, just that you need an amount of concrete evidence to come to an unshakeable conclusion. It’s called root cause analysis Steve, I do it for a living and I’m good at it. It surprises me how badly most people do it, but that tends to be because most latch onto a ‘simplest to them’ option.

So you are a psychologist then Steve? How does this ‘projection’ work then? I stated that honestly thinking you have a special, as in infallible, ability to accurately assess someone you’ve never met (it should go without me having to say, but) who hasn’t actually openly committed atrocities such as genocide) is ‘for the birds’. So that means I’m gutted I don’t have this fictional ability, so I’m in denial that you definitely do have it? Wouldn’t that be akin to you having something like a Napoleon complex?

Wow! I have a lot to meditate on.

The NBC 'crew' or is it The Athletic report that "representatives" of TFG were there yesterday. "Representatives"! 'Members of the family' were there too, apparently: a stray niece who lives in London? Danny's cousin from Telford nine-times-removed? Jock McGinty from Inverness who genealogists have revealed is in a long lineage that can be traced back to the MacFriedrichs who fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in 1746?

Nah! It has to be Dan the man and VP Ryan! Straws clutching, clutching straws.

So, let's rethink this (important as my professional job each day involves critical analysis of sources). The Athletic Crew claim that family members were there but they don't name them (were they under strict instructions not to name them?) but they do name the CEO etc. who is there anyway. Don't you think that if Dan and his lad were there the Athletic Crew would name them and the first sentence would show this under the big fuck off banner headline: "DAN FRIEDKIN ATTENDS GOODISON'S LAST MATCH WITH HIS SON".

Don't you think that if he was there, Danny's head would have popped up even once - just once - on the TV that regularly scanned the stands? Don't you think it would have been announced and our saviour would have been introduced to the fans in a carefully choreographed and scripted performance on this of all days? Don't you think that despite his apparent reticence being there he would most likely have said a few words like "Where am I?".

Oh, and by the way, where was that "divisive" NBA fella suddenly turned bluer than blue in a Road to Damascus experience who said he would be there not once but .......

Was he there?

Meanwhile, file that post under shoddy self-propelled deductive reasoning and misunderstanding of source material unless proved otherwise. I stand to be corrected as it would be dead nice if it was proved otherwise. And the many folk on here who have decried the absent Yank corporate capitalists will have their concerns soothed and settled. But one moral of this is whether right or wrong, think about the nature of our sources.

Agreed, it would indeed have made a great banner heading but probably only in The Gruniad.

And the same source tantalisingly adds that "There is, however, the uncertainty over the presence of president Dan Friedkin. The Giallorossi president could in fact fly to England to follow Everton's final game of the season live at Goodison Park".

I'll keep checking and hope to be proved wrong. And I do mean that Ian. It would be smashing if Dan had been there. I just called him and he was playin golf with the US President, who is also a mate (of his).

But, of course you're right, every bluenose felt the same when that final whistle was blown and the first note on the violin was played.

He sends hugs.

If anyone knows Spanish or fancies a translation, that's the link of the article to Goodison I wrote in a local newspaper where I write here in Argentina.

Btw, I'm a Boca fan, Paul!

I have been to La Bombonera Nicolas: 2 May 2015: Boca 2-0 River

River, River, man,
you bunch of mother fuckers.
River, River, man,
you bunch of mother fuckers.
You're always talking shit,
you're always making promises.
When you come to the 12,
you all take off running,
you all take off running.

Anyway, I attempted to translate your lovely article Nicholas (Hope that I did a decent job). Great that you are spreading the word around in Buenos Aires.

THE END OF AN ERA

Everton ended his 133-year stay at Goodison Park and transformed him into a living legend.

Nicolas Piñon

The end of an era. A grand life in the history of English football. Everton ended their 133-year stay at Goodison Park, their home since 1892, and transformed it into a living legend. Yes, the Liverpool club beat Southampton 2-0 yesterday, playing their final home game in the current Premier League at their home stadium. Starting in August, they will move their home to Hill Dickinson Stadium, on the Bramley Moore Dock, overlooking the River Merseyside.

The current team of Carlos Alcaraz, formerly of Racing and the only Argentinian at Everton today, will not leave its stadium because of its age or at the request of Liverpool, its long-time rival: its next home will have a capacity of almost 55,000 spectators, almost half more than those who entered Goodison (39,000), which will be used from now on for the women's football of the club, which plays in the first division of the well-regarded English women's football, the Women's Super League.

Everton began work on their new home in August 2021, requiring an investment of approximately £500 million, leaving the club close to relegation from the English elite in the last three seasons. This is incredible for a club that decades ago enjoyed glory like few others. An Everton that won the European Champions Cup in 1985, nine domestic league titles, and the FA Cup, whose most renowned talent emerged from its youth divisions was Wayne Rooney, and whose ranks included stars of the caliber of Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker, eternal British goal-scorers.

However, there were golden pages written long before at the club founded in the 19th century, pages that will live forever in the silence that will now surround the legendary stadium. "The King" Pelé, who played in the 1966 World Cup in England, lost his only World Cup match at Goodison Park. Meanwhile, Eusebio, "the Mozambican Panther," one of the best (if not the best) forwards in the history of Portuguese football, confessed that Everton's stadium was the best he had ever played in during his entire football career in official matches.

An old-school stadium, made of wood and with the lime lines right up against the stands, only the length of a park (Stanley Park) separating it from Liverpool's home ground, its longtime rival, which was founded when Everton's former owners left Anfield, their old ground, more than a century ago.

Everton, the city's working-class "Beatle" team, founded Goodison Park towards the end of the 19th century, in 1892 to be precise, beginning a journey that saw it become one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football, despite its current uneven performance. Now, 133 years, 2,791 matches (more than any other top-flight club in all of England), and 5,370 goals later, Goodison Park closes its doors for good. A piece of history has bid farewell to big-time football and the Premier League.

Great job translating!! :-)

“So you are a psychologist then Steve?” I am not a psychologist Si,

But useless fact of the day -I have British Psychological Society Level B accreditation. That means I can administer and coach various psychometric tests.

Not much use, but it does mean that I had to learn the meaning of “projection”.

“Wow! I have a lot to meditate on.” You do Si, but acknowledgement is a good first step.

What they are doing is obscure, and it is an insult to our new owners to ask.

They have been able to take a break from their 24/7 toil as billionaires to attend Roma, as you say, including mini-Dan going to Roma/Milan at the weekend. Rome is nice to be fair.

But let’s just be grateful.

Though for different a reason than Wayne Rooney and Billy Kenny, another fantastic player we never saw the best of.

Online abuse of people is the preserve of The Shite.

You owe us an explanation Michael after deleting at the latest count three posts on this disgusting abuse or will posts 143-147 be deleted. You are accountable for your actions unless you rule by Divine Right of Kings.

(Actually, I made the same post on two threads as I thought the issue was that important. So, MK has deleted 4 posts now.)

Not much use, but it does mean that I had to learn the meaning of “projection”.”

So come on then Steve, explain how or what I was “projecting”? I genuinely want to know what it was I was supposed to be doing.

Also, what does ‘coach various psychometric tests” mean? Who are you coaching?