Season › 2024-25 › News Peter Reid to manage Everton in Legends game against AS Roma Anjishnu Roy 08/07/2025 37comments | Jump to last Everton Giant Peter Reid is set to take charge of the Blues in the Legends game against AS Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Italian side will be led by Italian great Fabio Capello. The Legends game between Everton and AS Roma will take place after David Moyes’ side take on their Serie A counterparts in their final warm-up fixture before the Premier League kicks off. While the senior men’s team match will begin at 3:00pm BST on August 9, the Legends game will get underway at 5:15pm BST as both fixtures will mark the opening of the 52,769-capacity waterfront stadium. "I'm delighted," a beaming Reid told the club website. "The day will be a brilliant curtain-raiser. Listen, the Grand Old Lady has always been our heart but when you go inside and look at Hill Dickinson Stadium, it's just magnificent. I can't wait for 50-odd thousand Evertonians to be in there because we know what a unique atmosphere they create. It'll be something to behold.” Reid was a key player in the Toffees side of the mid-1980s that lifted two league titles, the FA Cup, the European Cup Winners' Cup, as well as three Charity Shields, during a stellar spell at Goodison Park. Phil Jagielka will captain the Everton Legends side on the field and more names will be added in the coming days. Meanwhile, Roma will be led by Capello who managed the side from the capital between 1999 and 2004. A former Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, and England manager as well, Capello has won five Serie A titles, two La Liga titles, and a UEFA Champions League. The Roma side will also include French World Cup winner Vincent Candela. "It's an honour to be asked to manage the Everton team – and it'll be brilliant to go up against Fabio Capello, someone who I've met a couple of times. When I was a manager, I went on courses and I'd heard him speak. His record is second to none,” said Reid. "It'll be good to catch up again... as long as we win! We've got to win it – I'm all about winning!" Reader Comments (37) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Peter Mills 1 Posted 08/07/2025 at 13:29:53 I'm surprised two matches are going to take place, one after the other. I'm going to the event, but don't imagine I'll hang around for the whole (or any) of the Legends game. I can see people leaving the stadium over a spread-out period of time from around 4:30 pm, with perhaps half the crowd staying for the 2nd game, meaning there will not have been a fully tested evacuation of 50,000 people in a limited timescale by the time the first league game comes around. I'm going to be very cautious on that opening day of the season. Kevin Molloy 2 Posted 08/07/2025 at 13:56:55 I think they've laid on the second game cos it's going to take over an hour to leave the ground Peter. Scott Hamilton 3 Posted 08/07/2025 at 14:58:23 Wonder if theres a way of those of you that leave before the Legends Game passing your tickets to us less fortunate souls?Seems a shame to waste them when theres tens of thousands of blues desperate to check-out the new stadium. Most would happily watch tiddly winks there I'm sure. Brent Stephens 4 Posted 08/07/2025 at 15:16:07 Scott. Im not sure a ticket would be allowed double entry. Paul Hewitt 5 Posted 08/07/2025 at 15:35:22 Why not have the legends game first. Seems crazy to have it last. Danny O'Neill 6 Posted 08/07/2025 at 15:40:55 Scott, what Brent says. At just about every ground now, once you are scanned in, you can't use the ticket again. Based on the email I received, this match is all digital, no PDF print offs accepted, unless I've misread. So the only way would be to hand your phone over to someone else.Paul H. I don't think it would matter. Either way, most will be there to watch the main event, whether it is before or after the Legends match.Tickets are on general sale on Thursday if there are any left. Liam Mogan 7 Posted 08/07/2025 at 15:41:31 Paul 5 - I suspect its to ease crowd congestion when leaving? Mike Gaynes 8 Posted 08/07/2025 at 19:32:41 I just hope Reidy wears that hat on the touchline. Ray Robinson 9 Posted 08/07/2025 at 20:14:56 Liam, if the extra game is to prevent crowd congestion, what is the actual point of the exhibition game? I thought the safety licence would be predicated on proving the safe egress of a full 50,000+ crowd. Allowing the crowd to drift away in dribs and drabs proves nothing. I'm confused. Paul Hewitt 10 Posted 08/07/2025 at 21:50:49 I don't understand why people think Everton are going to have a problem when 50k fans leave the ground?Other clubs with bigger attendances do it with no fuss. Eric Myles 11 Posted 09/07/2025 at 13:08:57 If Reidy is there, I hope the bars are well stocked up with shandies.I'd be more interested in watching the Legends game to be honest. Has the line-up been announced?Big Nev (even bigger Nev now!) In goal. Who's Number 9 though? Dunc or Wayne? Michael Kenrick 12 Posted 09/07/2025 at 13:30:40 Number 9? Has to be Calvert-Lewin.What a legend. Brendan McLaughlin 13 Posted 09/07/2025 at 13:44:19 Heard a rumour that Seamus will feature in both games. Danny O'Neill 14 Posted 09/07/2025 at 13:52:11 Michael, I can almost feel your sarcasm!!Eric, he likes a glass of red wine too, so he should get on well with Capello. Let's hope they make it to the dugouts!!! Pete Neilson 15 Posted 09/07/2025 at 14:15:34 Rumour that our first home game will be moved to Sunday 24th August 2pm KO. Steve Brown 16 Posted 09/07/2025 at 14:23:15 Mike @ 8, have you checked out Reidys trousers in the photos?Northern soul specials. Dave Abrahams 17 Posted 09/07/2025 at 14:27:25 Steve (16) I havent seen them but can imagine— Tragedy Kecks? Liam Mogan 18 Posted 09/07/2025 at 14:32:53 Ray 9 - not sure that the licence is predicated on 50k all leaving at once? The plans for hospitality, bars etc seem designed to limit this?Paul 10 - having been to a test event, there will definitely be complications when everyone leaves the ground. The fact that 3 sides of the ground are surrounded by water means it is very different from Goodison and other grounds. Paul Tran 19 Posted 09/07/2025 at 14:37:40 In other news, on BlueSky, there clandestine pictures of Barry stepping out for photos at The Hill. Joe McMahon 20 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:02:43 According to Bobble, Stockport County are in talks with Everton for Roman Dixon and Tyler Onyango. On loan Steve Brown 21 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:04:48 Dave @ 17, take a look at the bell bottoms he is wearing in the photo at the top of this article. Danny O'Neill 22 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:09:06 Steve, are they as bad as Neville Southall's shirts? Steve Brown 23 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:12:15 Thats a tough choice Danny! Rob Halligan 24 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:19:03 Opening game at the new stadium against Brighton has been moved back to Sunday with a 2pm kick off. To be screened by Sky Sports. Ian Jones 25 Posted 09/07/2025 at 15:59:56 Michael, DCL is going to unveiled as Roma's marquee signing for the main match. Ray Robinson 26 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:06:45 Liam #18,Surely that is what a safety certificate is all about? The ability to get everyone out of the ground as soon as possible in an emergency? Danny O'Neill 27 Posted 09/07/2025 at 20:18:38 It's not Ray.At both test events, a lot of people left early, some even at half time.Just as they did at Goodison. There are always a few who leave early for various reasons, beat the traffic, get to the station early, whatever.It's the same in most grounds around the country.And don't forget, one of the principles of the new stadium is to keep as many supporters as possible inside the stadium afterwards to enjoy the facilities, bars and hospitality, so it's never going to be 50,000 leaving at once. It never was at Goodison. Ray Robinson 28 Posted 09/07/2025 at 21:20:26 Danny, with respect, I'm not talking about what happens during a normal match, I'm talking about what happens in an emergency with a full crowd present. This could be 10 minutes after kick-off.I've read somewhere that a stadium has to be capable of full evacuation in 8 minutes. I'm no safety expert. Not sure how Everton will demonstrate that. Liam Mogan 29 Posted 09/07/2025 at 21:29:44 As you say, Ray, I'm not sure how you would definitively demonstrate a 50k mass evacuation unless you actually did it? Maybe there is some modelling etc?I don't think you have to actually do it at full capacity to get an operating licence? I might be wrong but I think the last event was the one that tested the evacuation protocol, which is why the match suddenly ended at 60 odd minutes. Don Alexander 30 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:35:02 Apologies for repeating myself but the stadium is built with only one end for access and egress, off a dilapidated ancient street all but devoid, as yet, but understandably had there NOT been burgeoning evidence to the council that a very large stadium was under construction for years, of any single measure of improved transport capability or visitor development . In addition, on the road at the city end of the stadium there's a very small bridge, probably built in the horse & cart era, with dock water on each side just a few feet below and, as yet, no structure to prevent folk from falling in "inadvertently". Lord only knows how durable it'll be in an emergency evacuation en masse.Lastly, Reidy;In early '83 he was a new signing for us, multi-crocked as he had been at Bolton for years, to the cost of Lord only knows how many England caps in midfield. He decided to partake in a charity match and did well but, to his possible present distaste, he afterwards ventured to a nightclub where we met. He was with the inestimable Tommy Burns of Celtic, who'd also played in the game and they were having a really good time - so much so that Tommy bought a round, after I had. When it came to Reidy's turn though he threw me a proper dummy and I never saw him again! :) Don Alexander 31 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:37:20 I still kinda like him though. Danny O'Neill 32 Posted 09/07/2025 at 22:48:04 I love stories like that, Don. We all know there has been a massive oversight of the logistics around the stadium.I'm not reading too much into it right now, just hoping that the authorities play catch-up to serve the premier sporting and events stadium, not just in the city, but the North-West.For years, we heard "Standby Operation Goodison Exercise", a signal for the stewards to take position to ensure evacuation routes were clear. Followed by "All clear Operation Goodison Exercise".No one moved, just the stewards. Nicholas Ryan 33 Posted 10/07/2025 at 13:20:16 I've just been on the EFC website, trying to get my season ticket seat for the Roma game. A seat number came up, which wasn't mine. I tried Upper, Lower, Best Available, but they all returned the same single seat. I decided to phone the Club to sort it out. While the phone was ringing, my screen 'pinged' and the single seat disappeared; to be replaced by a banner saying: 'Event Sold Out'. So, 53,000 tickets have been sold and I missed out on the very last one! Dooooh, as Homer Simpson would say! Brendan McLaughlin 34 Posted 10/07/2025 at 13:28:31 Nicholas that! Rob Halligan 35 Posted 10/07/2025 at 13:34:29 Nick # 33…With your contacts, you should have no problem getting a ticket, probably in one of those posh lounges! Dennis Stevens 36 Posted 10/07/2025 at 13:50:30 The event went on General sale this morning, so no surprise it's sold out now. Paul Hewitt 37 Posted 10/07/2025 at 14:06:52 Interesting interview from John Textor on TalkSport today. Apparently, he was very very close to buying the club and had agreed everything with Moshiri. But TFG came back in at the last minute and got it. 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