Under brilliant blue skies, Everton said farewell to their beloved Goodison Park after 132 years with a comfortable 2-0 victory over already-relegated Southampton.
The historic day was filled with emotion, blue flares, and endless choruses of “The Spirit of the Blues” as thousands gathered to say goodbye to the Grand Old Lady of English football.
Club legend Seamus Coleman led the team out as captain for the momentous occasion. The 36-year-old Irishman, Everton’s longest-serving player, received thunderous applause both when walking onto the pitch and when substituted after just 18 minutes due to injury.
Iliman Ndiaye gave the home crowd exactly what they wanted with two well-taken goals – the first coming after just five minutes when he collected Jarrad Branthwaite’s pass and finished coolly. His second came just before half-time, showing quick thinking to round Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
“We never shone so brightly,” goes a line from the club anthem – and on this occasion, it felt especially true. The fans packed tightly into the streets surrounding the ground hours before kick-off, creating a carnival atmosphere despite the emotional undercurrent.
The day was filled with touching moments. Eddie and Elaine’s tea hut on Gwladys Street displayed a simple banner: “Goodbye. Thank you for your custom over the years.” Former heroes were remembered in songs, with chants about Kevin Ratcliffe, Kevin Campbell, Tony Hibbert and others echoing around the ground.
Even Wayne Rooney, once vilified for leaving the club, was welcomed back and spotted in the stands alongside Graeme Sharp, another club legend recently restored to the Everton family.
Thankfully for fans, manager David Moyes had already secured Premier League survival, allowing everyone to focus purely on celebration rather than worry about relegation. It meant Goodison’s final competitive men’s fixture could be enjoyed without the nail-biting tension that has become all too familiar in recent seasons.
When the final whistle blew, supporters lingered, reluctant to leave for the last time. Many were photographed in tears, the reality of saying goodbye to their spiritual home finally hitting home.
The club now looks ahead to its new state-of-the-art stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Moyes has suggested it could take three transfer windows to properly rebuild the squad, with young talents like Ipswich’s Liam Delap and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson reportedly potential targets as the club aims to build a team worthy of their impressive new home.
As the famous lyrics from “Spirit of the Blues” declare: “We’re on the move, we’ve got something to prove.” After 132 years of memories at Goodison Park, Everton supporters will hope their new beginning brings brighter days ahead.
