Goodbye Goodison Park 💙

It was an emotional farewell to Goodison Park on Sunday. After holding a season ticket for 16 years, it felt like both myself and every other fan were reliving a small part of the club’s rich history. Chants from every era echoed through the stands for the full 90 minutes—everything from “Who needs Cantona when we’ve got Barry Horne”, to the recently revived “The Goodison Gang”, right up to Fellaini’s iconic chant and more. Of course, fans made the presence of classics like “Spirit of the Blues” and “Z-Cars” known too. 

The feeling of nostalgia continued through the show at the end of the game, when cross- generational ex players and club legends like Joe Royle, Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, of course Seamus Coleman and so many more took a final lap around the pitch.
Sunday reminded us all just how much Goodison has meant to generations of fans.

I particularly enjoyed watching my parents and the older generation around us take it all in. You could see their inner child come alive with each familiar tune and sight of ex players, reflecting on memories of their first matches—times shared with parents, partners, and friends. Then looking at younger generations and realising the few visits to Goodison each month weren’t just football games - they were defining moments in their childhoods and early adulthood for everybody there. Bill Ryder Jones’ and his band captured the feeling perfectly with their rendition of ‘In My Life’ by the Beatles, which was introduced and closed with the sound of Z-Cars on the trumpet.

It made me imagine just how incredible it must have felt for my parents to visit Goodison with my Grandad when Everton were regularly winning trophies. Although it would be easy to say they brought me into a life of misery being a blue ... I wouldn’t have it any other way!

It was a great to be part of the send off to a stadium that encapsulates so much history, emotion, and memories.

Goodbye Goodison!