Everton

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Former Everton captain and lifelong supporter Alan Stubbs says playing at Goodison Park was the "epitome" of his footballing career, as the Toffees prepare to bid farewell to a ground that he believes was "designed perfectly for a great atmosphere".

The defender played 193 games for the club, scoring seven times.

"No matter if you look at Goodison Park in the modern day or you roll back 30 or 60 years, the atmosphere has always been there," Stubbs said on BBC Radio Merseyside's Goodbye to Goodison podcast.

"I think it was designed perfectly for a great atmosphere. It is really intense, the fans virtually feel like they are on top of the pitch, it is hostile.

"I've got to be honest, playing at Goodison Park was just the epitome of my career. The atmosphere was just incredible - and when Goodison Park roars, you certainly know about it.

"I loved walking out of that tunnel to hear the initial roar. I have certainly seen the fans get the players over the line over the years, that is how influential and important the atmosphere is at Goodison Park.

"It is certainly one of the main things I'm going to miss."

When asked about being a lifelong supporter of the club, Stubbs revealed: "My choice was made by my dad, as an Everton fan himself.

"My first visit to Goodison Park was as an eight-year-old boy in the Gwladys Street stand. There used to be a row of crates along the front wall for the younger ones who couldn't see over, and I was one of them.

"From then onwards, supporting Everton was just the norm really. I was lucky enough to be picked up by the club when I was nine or 10 years old.

"So I never really knew anything other than Everton, if I'm being really honest."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Everton captain Seamus Coleman says he will "miss everything" about Goodison Park, but "better times are ahead".

The 36-year-old, who signed for the club for £60,000 in 2009, will be hoping to lead the team out for one last time at their historic ground on Sunday before they move to their new stadium next season.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about his favourite Goodison memories, Coleman said: "I would have to say making my debut here [is most memorable].

"To sign as reserve team player, then to get on the pitch here as a first-team player was probably the most memorable moment because that is what you live for, that is what you work for and that is what you dream of - to be a Premier League player - and thankfully I got to do it that night as an Everton player.

"They have a done a great job at the new stadium. You can see how close the fans are going to be to us, so if it can be replicated in any way then that will be good. But I love how close they are to us here.

"I will miss everything about the place - it is hard to pin-point one thing. I've got no doubts about the atmosphere going into the new stadium because we have got the same fanbase that we have here and more moving into the new stadium. There will still be 52,000 Scousers who are passionate and love their football club.

"But you will miss everything – the drive in, the familiar faces you see that might take a while to get used to seeing again – so it will be emotional, it will be sad but better times ahead as well. We have to look to the future now and thank Goodison for everything it has done.

"There will be a fanbase that has seen amazing nights here. A lot of emotion, a lot of history is in here and it will missed - but we're excited for the future.

"I'm just grateful I got to play at this stadium."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Hear more from the Goodbye To Goodison podcast series

With Everton's men's team gearing up to say their goodbye to Goodison Park on Sunday, BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould was granted special access to the centre circle of the famous ground to look ahead to what is going to be a "really emotional" day for many.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

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It is sad to see the Everton men's team leaving Goodison Park. It has great history.

It has been there for such a long time - over 130 years - and there are so many memories for players, fans, even opponents that have been there over this time. But it is dated, and looking at the team and direction the club are trying to go in, a move has been on the cards for a long time.

In terms of Everton wanting to make a statement and and wanting to move on, it is the right time for them. The fans have been crying out for it now for a few years, they have been promised a new stadium and now it is finally happening, so I think it is perfect timing.

Sunday will be very emotional for everybody involved. But, what fans will enjoy now is the fact that the stadium will not be getting demolished. The history will continue. The stadium will create many more memories there now the women's team will be calling it home.

For the men's side, it is the start of something new. With the new owners, going into a new stadium and the massive attraction that is for players, I am sure they are going to invest some money and really try to push on in the summer. They can look at what the likes of Nottingham Forest have done this year and hope to do something similar next year.

This club has always been about the people and the fans most importantly. It will be emotional on Sunday for sure, but I am really excited about this change that we have here. I have got some really good friends that are Evertonians and they are really excited about the move now and cannot wait for next season to get into the new stadium and create some new memories there.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

When you think of goal noise you think of the fans reaction or the sound of the ball hitting the back of the net.

But Goodison Park has a very different sound.

"When it looks like the ball is going into the back of the net, the wooden seats all start clicking," says BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould.

And one person who got those seats "clicking" regularly was Wayne Rooney.

When the 16-year-old made his senior debut and scored, "people knew he was special and going to the top," she added.

Is it one of the most iconic moments of Goodison Park?

Former captain Phil Jagielka and Bould believe it has to be.

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David Moyes says "there is a chance now to move Everton on" as the Toffees say goodbye to Goodison Park and hello to Bramley-Moore Dock.

The Toffees boss, who has experience in both dugouts at Goodison Park, has reflected on the historic ground and his memories with BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I don't think I could describe Goodison in one word," he said. "There have been times there where I have loved it and times there have been times where I've thought about the small tunnel and small mangers office.

"But it is a special place and what makes it special is the people that come here.

"The atmosphere is a big part and over the years and there have been brilliant managers and players feature here.

"But I think many Evertonians have been waiting for a new ground and for a new beginning. I am with them because I think there is a chance now to move Everton on."

And Former captain Phil Jagielka believes "the stars have somehow aligned" so that the final game there is managed by Moyes.

"He has come back and he has made this as good as it possibly can be," added Jagielka. "He has come in and turned things around and managed the club the way it has needed to be managed.

"He gets it. He gets the club and Evertonians and he knows what it is like to play any game at Goodison."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

For more than 130 years, Goodison Park has been the home of Everton Football Club.

But on the 18 May, fans will scan their tickets and take their seats to watch the men's team for the final time.

BBC Sport has spoken to a selection of fans about their feelings ahead of Saturday and what this historic 'home' means to them.

From victory over Bayern Munich in 1985 to a crucial win against Crystal Palace in 2024, your memories at Goodison Park all have a common theme.

Atmosphere.

It might have been a turbulent few years for the club but you - the fans - have been the mainstay.

"There's nowhere like it".

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This will be Everton's 2,789th and final game at Goodison Park in all competitions (won 1,537, drawn 660, lost 591).

They are currently winless in seven home games (drawn five, lost two), most recently having a longer run between October and December 2009 (eight).

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Former Everton captain Phil Jagielka says Saturday's game against Southampton "is almost playing second-fiddle" to the farewell of Goodison Park.

Jagielka, who spent 12 years with the Toffees, will be at the game and expects an "emotional" occasion.

"It is an amazing place and I have so many good memories," said Jagielka on BBC Radio 5 Live's special Goodbye to Goodison podcast. "It will be sadly missed, but thankfully it is going to be able to stay there and be used in a different capacity so that people can still go there and see the Grand Old Lady.

"There has been a countdown to this ever since the season started but I can't imagine how emotional it is going to feel and be. The game is almost playing second-fiddle and that is nice because a few seasons ago we would have been going into a game at this point of the season needing points.

"Hopefully the lads can put in a really good performance still, but we are safe so it is also about enjoying it."

Listen to the special Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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That day is almost upon us. The day that Everton fans have dreaded. The day that always seemed a long way off is very much part of the here and now.

Sunday's Premier League match with Southampton is "The Last Dance" at Goodison as far as the men's senior team is concerned, and for the almost 40,000 fans who have been fortunate enough to get tickets for the match, it is going to be an incredibly emotional occasion.

Goodison is the place where the footballing focus of Evertonians has been centred for their whole lives. It is the place they were taken for the first time, either by a family member or friend. It is where they first became captivated by the lush green turf, the clatter of those old wooden seats and the spine-tingling cacophony that greets the players as they come out of the tunnel and onto the pitch on match days.

The 'Z Cars' theme music that has been part of the pre-match ritual at Goodison since the 1960s has become an iconic emblem for all Everton fans. At 11:55 on Sunday, on hearing the staccato drum beats at the beginning of the piece, will lead to a super-charged welcome from the fans that will probably register on the Richter scale.

Football is nothing if it is not about the memories; of your favourite match, the players you adored and of those magical moments that are indelibly marked in the minds of those who saw them. For Everton fans there has been a whole raft of idols to worship down the years, from the days of Dixie Dean all the way through to the modern generation of players that now wear the royal blue jersey with pride.

Opinions will vary as to who are the finest teams to grace Goodison Park, and will largely be dependent on what era you belong to. The fan base may have been starved of silverware for 30 years, but it has not altered the pride and the passion they have for their team.

The halcyon days of the Ball, Harvey and Kendall-inspired team that won the title in 1969-70, or of the all-conquering side from the mid-1980s, seems an awful long way off. But football is also about dreams and with David Moyes back at the managerial helm, the future looks much brighter that it has done for years.

The fulfilment of those dreams will not come at Goodison, with the team moving lock, stock and barrel to a brand new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Nevertheless the stadium stands at the very core of all that is good about Everton. It might not be their first stadium, but it is the place they have called home for the past 133 years and home is where the heart is.

Moyes told his players after the 3-1 win at Fulham that this match with Southampton is Everton's most important game of the season. He wants to give the fans some moments to remember as the team say their final farewells to Goodison. Those privileged enough to be there will remember the day for the rest of their lives.

Saying goodbye to someone you will never see again is heartbreaking. But unfortunately it is the price you pay for love.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds

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Earlier we gave you a few Goodison Park teasers.

We've put the answers below and hope you enjoyed taking them on.

Can you name the three managers to have taken charge of the most Everton games at Goodison Park?

1. Thomas McIntosh (359 matches)

2. Harry Catterick (295)

3. William Cuff (287)

Which opposition manager achieved the most wins at the stadium?

Sir Alex Ferguson (17)

Which club have Everton beaten more than any other at Goodison Park?

1. Sunderland (60 times)

2. Newcastle (51 times)

3. Aston Villa (49 times)

Who were the Toffees' first opponents at Goodison Park in 1892?

Nottingham Forest in a 2-2 draw

Across all competitions, have Everton lost more games or drawn more games at the stadium?

Won 1,537

Lost 591

Drawn 660

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For the players and fans, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi getting this injury in a situation where the offside flag should have been raised is so frustrating.

The frustration is when it is clear and obvious. Officials have been overseeing games for many years and they would always flag whether they were right or wrong.

Now technology has come into it, they are very reliant on VAR to make the right decision, the factual decision, about an offside. But, I think when an offside is so clear and obvious, it should be the duty of the assistant referee to put their flag up and stop play from the off.

When it is marginal, I understand we are a bit more hesitant when there are really fine margins, and we have seen those fine margins when goals have been given and it is a toenail to keep them on-side. I would understand it from that point of view, but it was on the halfway-line where the offside happened on Sunday, only for play to be allowed to continue.

It has been a matter of time. It has been a time bomb waiting to go off for somebody to get seriously injured. Awoniyi is the one that has got that injury - that horrific injury - because of it. Some will say it is only the first time it has happened in the duration of this rule, but it should never happen. That is how players will be looking at it, how fans and managers will be looking at it and saying 'it should never happen'. We should not wait for something to happen to reassess rules like this.

I don't like the ruling of it - it is on the halfway-line, it is clear and obviously offside, everybody in the stadium could probably see it. It should be for the assistant referee to make the decision. There are small margins in the box, I understand why they are a bit hesitant, but in open play, if somebody is sprinting, you could cause hamstring, quad, and all types of muscle injuries.

I am totally against this rule of waiting to put up the flag and I think most players and managers are as well. It's disappointing. I think it's a rule that nobody likes, and I'm sure in the summer off the back of this injury, one that will probably be reassessed.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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Everton fan and former boxing world champion Tony Bellew says Goodison Park is "the most special place to me in the whole world" as the men's team prepare to say goodbye to the stadium on Sunday.

Bellew had the unique experience of winning the WBC cruiserweight title at the home of his childhood club in May 2016.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, the 42-year-old said: "This club is my life. I love Everton Football Club with all that I have got.

"After my family, this the second-most important thing in my life. It is more important than boxing to me - it is everything. It is what I have been raised on. I love what our club stands for. If I hadn't won that night, I would have never come back to Goodison Park and it would have been the worst night of my life.

"I'm the only person in history to ever win a world title at Goodison Park. The main event, the dream scenario, the dream stage and thankfully I got the job done. I did get knocked down heavily in the first round and got my nose broken on the way to it, but I got up and wreaked havoc just like Everton do.

"It is everything I dreamed of as a kid. When I came into this place, I realised my dreams. This was my lifelong dream to fight for a world title at Goodison Park. I wasn't good enough to play for Everton football club but I was good enough to win that world title here.

"This is my home away from home. This place is the most special place to me in the whole world. This club means more to me than I could possibly put into words."

Listen to more on the Goodbye to Goodison podcast on BBC Sounds

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We have collated a few Goodison Park teasers for you to try out.

The questions focus on all competitions at the famous stadium.

• Can you name the three managers to have taken charge of the most Everton games at Goodison Park?

• Which club have Everton beaten more than any other at Goodison Park?

• Who were the Toffees' first opponents at Goodison Park in 1892?

• Across all competitions, have Everton lost more games or drawn more games at the stadium?

• Which opposition manager achieved the most wins at the stadium?

Call back to this page later on Wednesday to see if you got the right answers.

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We asked for your views on Everton's decision to relocate their women's team to Goodison Park, saving the stadium for football use moving forward.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: Fantastic news - shows real vision and understanding. Well done to The Friedkin Group!

Anton: Wonderful news, absolutely wonderful! Goodison Park couldn't be anything other than a football stadium. This news is music to my ears. Hopefully now we'll have a men's team and a women's team to be proud of, challenging at the right end of the table and for cups. Thank you to The Friedkin Group for being so decisive and so quickly too. Goodness gracious, is the future of Everton Football Club really going to be rosy?

Graham: Is it financially viable? One of the reasons for Everton seeking a new ground was the cost of keeping Goodison safe for spectators. The women play 11 home league games a season and the revenue from those minus the cost of opening and policing the stadium will not see much cash in the coffers. If Friedman is prepared to subsidise the women at Goodison, all well and good but it won't be self-financing.

Steve: I think this is a good decision and totally logical. The legacy will continue within the club as a whole. There is too much history and tradition to just remove the ground and delete it from the memories of so many Evertonians. Long live our club... long live Goodison Park. Let the history continue.

Macca: I've watched Everton since 1963, I am a season ticket holder, and Goodison Park holds lots of golden memories for me. But the original plan was to build community-based buildings with a central park, gardens culminating with a central area to mark the kick-off spot. This would have benefited the local area, shops, tourism, the local businesses, and local communities. That being said, the actual viewing and seating inside the stadium is dreadful - it's outdated. With poor facilities for fans, I'm surprised by the change of plans to continue to use the stadium.

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Everton says the relocation of its women's team to Goodison Park "addresses Everton Women's rapid growth and need for a larger, more suitable venue than Walton Hall Park".

The men's side will play their final competitive game at the stadium, which has been their home since 1892, on Sunday.

They will move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock ground in time for the start of next season, which is also when Everton Women will relocate to Goodison.

The decision comes after an in-depth review of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group following their takeover of the club in December.

The project was launched in 2020 to define the future of Goodison and, after an in-depth review, The Friedkin Group have decided that "football must be kept at the heart of Everton's community".

It has also been confirmed that Goodison, in addition to the women's matches, will stage selected academy games and expand Everton in the Community's L4 campus.

Newly-appointed Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear said: "We know how treasured Goodison is, not only to every Evertonian, but to the game itself, and being able to keep such an iconic stadium at the heart of the legacy project is something that has been incredibly important to us.

"From next season, we are proud to say our women will have an unrivalled permanent home in the WSL - another statement of intent as we look to build the foundations that will help us challenge for trophies."

Dave Kelly, chair of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, added: "Goodison Park holds the most special place in the hearts of all Evertonians. It has been a glorious home for the men's team since 1892, and for it now to be transformed into a home for Everton Women is something I know many if not every Blue will support."

What do you think about the decision?

Let us know

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Former Everton forward Duncan Ferguson has been reflecting on some of his favourite memories of Goodison Park as the final game at the stadium nears.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about some of his most memorable goals, the Scot said: "I've got favourites and most of them are against Liverpool!

"The first one sticks in mind because there is a story to it as well - it was my first goal, we beat Liverpool, they are top of the league and we are bottom of the league. I've just come in and it's big Joe's [Royle] first game and we have just beaten Liverpool 2-0 - you couldn't have made it up really. It was a crazy 24 hours for me and I think that then gets the fans on board with you."

On another fond memory, Ferguson said: "I don't think we had beat Manchester United for 10 years. I had scored the winner and took my shirt off and run across the pitch. Then, 10 years later at the same end, I got a header again and that was my last big goal for Everton. That put us in the Champions League then.

"That was an incredible atmosphere that night at Everton, I have not experienced an atmosphere like that - when that went in, the stadium was shaking."

Reflecting on how he will feel seeing the club leave their famous home ground, Ferguson said: "It is sad. It will probably hit home a lot more as we get to the last game. A lot of memories are on that pitch. People walking to the game with their families, their mums, their dads, their sisters, their brothers, some that are no longer with us.

"The fans will remember those moments with their families going to the game, and I think about that, I think about them. Coming to the house, walking to the game with their kids - it's sad, very sad indeed. I am sure there will be plenty of tears spilt on Goodison Park again."

Listen to the Goodbye to Goodison episode on BBC Sounds

Hear Ferguson's full chat with Phil Munns

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BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope believes Everton are bringing in "huge amounts of experience" with the arrival of Angus Kinnear as the club's new chief executive.

Everton confirmed on Monday that Kinnear had taken up his new role, having departed Leeds United.

"I think it's a loss for Leeds and a real positive for Everton," Pope said. "Angus has got massive experience at top-flight football, having been at West Ham and Arsenal in particular and also with the FA prior to that, too.

"He's certainly been a part of major negotiations and some pretty critical stuff that's gone on at those two other Premier League clubs.

"[He has] a huge amount of experience and he leaves with a legacy of having led Leeds United back into the Premier League.

"One thing that you might not credit him for, but he was involved in, it would be recruitment, and his knowledge and contacts and getting things done. I think he will be very useful and very helpful."

Listen on BBC Sounds