Everton vs Southampton: Latest updates from emotional last men's game at Goodison Park

Telegraph

18-05-2025

So, after 133 years it's finally time to say goodbye to Goodison Park. Farewell, then, to St Luke's and Old Ma Bushell's Toffee House, farewell to Johnny Todd, Bullens Road, Walton Lane, Goodison Road and Gwladys Street, farewell to the field where bullocking Dixie frolicked, Duncan McKenzie dazzled, the Golden Vision gilded, Brian Labone strained every sinew, Big Dunc battled, the Holy Trinity were worshipped, where Tommy Lawton scored 70 goals before his 20th birthday and Wayne Rooney shook up the world at 17.
It's a world of royal blue, the Mersey Millionaires, Bob Latchford and his five grand cheque, of eternal questions such as 'what the hell is Hafnia?', Le Coq Sportif and white bibs, Big Andy and Inchy, Sharpie and Sheeds, Reidy and Brace, Stevens and Steven, the Rat and Degsy, Bails and Psycho Pat, Rico, Harpo and the imperishable Nev. It's the popping of corks in Howard's office, stern Harry, Eusebio, the Black Pearl, going berserk at 3-0 down to North Korea and banging in four, Haller and Beckenbauer in a World Cup semi, where two teams in black and white stripes won FA Cup finals.
Football clubs have moved stadiums without a backward look before and both Middlesbrough and Sunderland have had some glorious moments in their years away from Ayresome Park and Roker Park. Football clubs are more than lumps of ground, they are confederations of memory, tradition, of the hopes and emotions of millions of people over more than a century who have carried them in their hearts.
That will not change away from Goodison but something will be lost because it has been, since the moment Archibald Leitch laid down his T-square, the perfect football stadium with a unique atmosphere. Those who mourn its passing are not Luddites or romantic simpletons out of tune with a hard-nosed corporate league rapidly colonised by plutocrats. They know its time has come but hope it can be given the send-off it deserves.