The Final Roar from the Grand Old Lady
By George Roberts
Pre-match buildup
It was 8 o’clock on Sunday morning when the crowds started gathering all around Goodison Park.
On the day of the last ever men’s first team match at the “Grand Old Lady” of English football, thousands began lining the streets around the ground, singing songs of old.
From the pub on Goodison Road to the Winslow Hotel, blue banners and gulfs of blue smoke filled the air.
Plumes of blue smoke and a crowd of tens of thousands of people forced the team bus to be redirected from its usual route down Goodison Road.
The fans were in full voice outside the stadium well before kickoff.
It was fast becoming an emotional occasion. Fathers hugging sons. Friends embracing and reminiscing. And then a football match broke out.
Everton 2-0 Southampton
Deafening cheers welcomed the blaring siren.
Z Cars (Everton’s anthem) beckoned the Dogs of War to the hallowed turf of Goodison Park.
And the Blues made their way onto the pitch for the Grand Old Lady’s final game.
Just six minutes after kick-off came the outpouring of all that emotion – Iliman Ndiaye opening the scoring after his dancing feet took him past several tackles and helped him slot the ball into the corner of the Park End net.
Cue the ecstasy inside Goodison Park, with fans jumping into the air to celebrate with friends and family.
After the hugs and kisses, tears began to fall among Evertonians and reality began to creep in.
This would be Goodison Park’s last foray. The Grand Old Lady’s final day out.
Everton’s own Irish hero – the one-club man and captain Seamus Coleman – had led the team onto the pitch for this unforgettable occasion. But he was substituted in the 18th minute due to an unfortunate ankle injury.
Chants of “60 grand, 60 grand Seamus Coleman” reverberated around Goodison, to send the skipper off in style.
It was on the stroke of half-time that the Toffees sealed their win and the celebrations could begin in earnest. And it was another goal for Ndiaye.
The ball fell kindly into the path of the Senegalese forward, who skipped past Ramsdale and passed it into an open net.
Goodison Park erupted into a cauldron of euphoria, with fans confident of a final day victory at the Grand Old Lady.
The Blues took their foot off the gas in the second half, despite passionate singing from the fans.
The songs for past players echoed from the stands – from Romelu Lukaku to Barry Horne. From Duncan Ferguson to Kevin Campbell.
Evertonians produced a powerful and nostalgic environment inside this famous old stadium, transporting us back years to times when we sang the names of these Everton greats.
In the dying moments, there was a direct save from Jordan Pickford, to preserve a clean sheet and ensure that the last goal scored at Goodison Park was indeed an Everton one.
His heroics were rewarded by the Evertonians, who sang his name as the final whistle sounded for the last time at Goodison Park.
Post-Match
Then came the party.
A beautiful violin played the tune of Z Cars, and the final, emotional farewell began.
There was a sea of sadness from supporters in blue as the orchestral rendition of the famous anthem reduced many to tears.
Families embraced, remembering the days of Kendall, Harvey, and Ball.
From Bayern Munich to the Great Escape of 94, The Grand Old Lady had seen it all.
These terraces brokered bonds between otherwise passing strangers – adopting us all into a family of Evertonians.
Everton’s slogan “we are born, not manufactured” carried enormous weight on this final day.
Goodison Park became a holy pilgrimage for generations of fathers and sons.
I remember the day I first walked through the metal turnstiles, holding my dad’s hand as we climbed the Victorian terraces and looked out onto the mesmerizing playing surface.
The magic was real. I could finally see the players I had only known from the telly. The legends I pretended to be in the park.
Everton giant Alan Ball said: “Once Everton has touched you, nothing will be the same.”
That sentiment rings true for us all.
The enchantment of Goodison Park lit up the eyes of every young girl and boy the day they first set foot inside that footballing theatre.
A bittersweet acoustic performance of the Elton John classic ‘I guess that’s why they call it the Blues’ captured the hearts of half a city.
Tears struggles to be held back as the bottled-up feelings flowed to the surface.
“Time on my hands could be time spent with you” – the chorus perfectly encapsulating the reason we all go to the game.
Football in general, but Everton especially, is a family affair.
Scarves were held high and men in arms sang the powerful chorus as a round of applause followed the dramatic performance.
The Everton favourites of the 1960s and 70s were given a hero’s welcome as they paraded around the pitch they once graced.
Then came the teams of the 1980s, the most successful in the club’s history.
Everton’s greatest ever goalkeeper Neville Southall made his way onto the historic pitch to resounding applause.
His flowery Hawaiian shirt combined with a striking pair of sunglasses reflecting the big character he was both on and off the field.
Duncan Ferguson punched the air as he led out the teams of the 90s, a decade characterized by struggle yet triumph for Everton Football Club.
Tim Cahill received the biggest cheer from the teams of the 2000s.
The return of the Australian corner flag-punching fan favourite brought joy to all who had watched him score tremendous goals at the turn of the century.
Spirit of the Blues, Everton’s League title winning anthem from 1985, was performed by a full band to lift spirits around the stadium.
It reminded us that while Goodison might not feature in our matchday routine anymore, it will always be with us.
Scarves were swung round heads, and children were held up by their parents as we all bopped along to the classic Everton pop tune.
The Beatles ballad ‘In My Life’ played next with the backdrop of blue crackling fireworks overhead.
John Lennon’s tear-jerking lyrics closed out the ceremony leaving us all with heavy hearts.
Lennon’s words perfectly summarised the grief and pain of all Evertonians but filled us with a sense of optimism for days to come.
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more.
