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Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Not a dry eye or glass in sight as Everton say farewell to Goodison
THEY came from far and wide, the great and the good of Everton Football Club past and present, to bid farewell to Goodison Park, the 'Grand Old Lady' of English football, and after 133 years of memories - good and bad - there was not a dry eye in the house, or a dry glass within a five-mile radius of this glorious old ground. Peter Reid was not alone in admitting before kick-off that he 'had a shandy.' Queues were forming outside local pubs by around 8.30am as the mood vacillated between wild celebration and wake. There was big Duncan Ferguson, a man who never met a fight he didn't relish and who epitomised their club's grit and working class work ethic for a generation of Evertonians, performing TV duties on the touchline. And while the Scotsman may not normally be associated with wearing his heart on his sleeve, by the time the traditional 'Z-Cars' anthem was played as the teams walked out before kick-off, there were plenty of grown men openly weeping in the stands. Goodison had been a hive of activity since 7am, fans queuing outside for a vantage point on Goodison Road. By 9am car parks were nearly full and by 10am, the terraced streets around the stadium were gridlocked, the air thick with blue smoke. Forty minutes before kick-off, most fans were in their seats. The day had been weeks, months, in the planning, and it showed. David Moyes had told veteran club captain Seamus Coleman a month ago that he would start for the first time since Boxing Day. It was the Irishman's 430th appearance for the club, and lasted just 17 minutes before injury forced him off, although that was one of the rare events that did not go according to plan on the day. 'Just to step onto this pitch once was a massive achievement for myself,' said Coleman, 16 years on from his arrival from Sligo. And Southampton were the perfect visitors, their thoughts long since diverted towards the beach. Iliman Ndiaye scored twice, early and late in the first half, and Everton thoughts had long since been diverted towards the post-match festivities well before the final whistle sounded on the last ever men's fixture at the stadium. It started with an eclectic collection of video messages, ranging from Dame Judi Dench to Gary Neville - no prizes for guessing who received the biggest boos of the day. And there followed a parade of 80 legends; the likes of Bob Latchford and Joe Royle no longer as robust as they once were, but every bit as beloved. So they should be; Royle is the last manager to win a trophy for the club, the 1995 FA Cup. From the successful side of the 1980's, out came Trevor Steven, Graeme Sharp and, of course, Andy Gray; goalscorers, all, on that unforgettable night in 1985 when Everton blew aside mighty Bayern Munich 3-1 at this ground, to reach the European Cup Winners' Cup Final. 'That was the greatest night of my life,' said Gray to the fans. 'We may all be leaving Goodison, but Goodison will never leave us.' There were familiar faces of a more recent vintage, too, none more so than a beaming Wayne Rooney, whose defection to Manchester United has long since been forgiven and forgotten, and Ferguson, standing on the stage together. 'I know we're had our ups and downs,' said Rooney as he paid his own tribute to the ground and fans. But that is the thing about families, they may fall out, but the love still runs deep. Speaking of families, those of the late, great Howard Kendall and Walter Smith were also there - the former forever adored for his efforts as a player in Everton glories in the late 1960's, and as their manager in the mid-1980s. Those days seem a long time in the distant past, although the prospect of moving to a state-of-the-art new stadium under new owners the Friedkin Group has optimism at an all-time high. The decision to retain Goodison as a home for the women's team has already proved a PR masterstroke. Much of the positivity is due to David Moyes, who has done such an exceptional job in steering the club out of the relegation zone. His dad, David senior, was at Goodison, enjoying a pint in the Winslow on Goodison Road, as he has done so many times over the 20-plus years his son has been associated with the club. 'I was worried today, everyone had been talking about this for so long,' said Moyes junior. 'The scenes outside the stadium were incredible and it felt like a club which has needed some big days and some big things in the future so let's hope this is the start of it. 'When I got back here, this club looked broken, felt broken. It doesn't feel like that any more.'
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jodie Comer shares unexpected Everton link after final Goodison match
Killing Eve star Jodie Comer revealed she has a surprising connection to Everton Football Club as she took to social media to mark the end of the club's time at Goodison Park Jodie Comer tribute to Everton fans on Sunday as the football club bid farewell to its Goodison Park ground after 133 years. The football team will move to a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock later this year. Everton, which is currently captained by Irish footballer Séamus Coleman, 36, had one last game at Goodison Park - and left fans on could nine when they enjoyed a win. The team scored a a 2-0 victory over Southampton on Sunday. Ahead of the game, 32-year-old Killing Eve star Jodie took to social media to mark the end of an era - and made special mention to her father. She took to Instagram Stories and shared a photo of her dad in an Everton coat and revealed that he has worked at the club for almost three decades. She captioned her photo, writing: "Thinking of everyone saying Thank you and Goodbye to Goodison Park today. Especially this legend. 28 years at the club and counting. I love you dad!" Jodie, who is from Liverpool, has previously discussed her love for the team. She previously told The Guardian that she longs to see Everton win the Premier League. She told the outlet: "The Oscar is considered the pinnacle of acting. You receive one of them… But I think I have to say winning the league, purely to see the joy and elation on my dad's and my brother's faces." Later this year, Jodie will be seen on the big screen as a cast member of the Danny Boyle directed horror film sequel, 28 Years Later. The zombie horror film follows the 2002 original film 28 Days Later and first sequel 28 Weeks Later - which was released in 2007. Opening up to ELLE Magazine about her involvement in the film in June last year, Jodie revealed she had been studying a pop singer in order to ace an accent for her role. The magazine reported at the time: "This afternoon, she'll head to Newcastle to begin rehearsals for her latest role in the film 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle's third instalment in his zombie-horror trilogy, alongside Ralph Fiennes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. "The part means she'll get to add another accent to her repertoire: Geordie. She has been watching clips of Cheryl on The X Factor with her dialect coach to prepare." And discussing her anticipation about filming the project, she told the magazine: "I'm excited to get the first day done... Danny just seems like such a confident, intuitive and intelligent director. The original was so loved, so I'm trying not to think of that too hard. I'm not putting too much expectation on myself." Comer recently confessed to struggling with perfecting a Chicago accent for her role in the movie The Bikeriders, which is inspired by Danny Lyon's photographic book bearing the same title. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she confessed: "I would say that Kathy's accent is probably the hardest one that I've done. I was given 30 minutes with the real Kathy being interviewed by Danny Lyon, and I was so struck by how singular and unique her dialect and cadence was." She continued: "So I started working with a dialect coach, Victoria (Hanlin), and she told me, 'All the vowel sounds are a contradiction. This is something that is entirely her own.'". She added: "And I said, 'I want to get as close to the audio as I possibly can.' ". In another recent interview, this time with Buzzfeed, Jodie revealed she was enjoying working in films after first being rejected for a role in a major blockbuster. She told the magazine: "I auditioned for 'Mamma Mia! ' That was a time, that was also when I was auditioning for 'Killing Eve' as well." Despite past setbacks, both actors have secured starring roles in the upcoming crime drama 'The Bikeriders', portraying the married couple Benny and Kathy Cross.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
PL: Everton bid farewell to Goodison Park with 2-0 win over Southampton
After 133 years, 2,791 games, and 5,372 goals, Everton Football Club bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park with a 2-0 victory over Southampton on May 18, 2025. The historic ground, affectionately known as "The Grand Old Lady," witnessed its final men's senior match, marking the end of an era for the Toffees. The match was highlighted by a first-half brace from Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye, who scored in the 6th minute and again in first-half stoppage time, securing the win for Everton. Despite two disallowed goals for offside by striker Beto, the Toffees dominated the game, providing a fitting send-off for their storied home. Captain Seamus Coleman, a club legend with 427 appearances since 2009, started the match but was substituted after 17 minutes, receiving a standing ovation from the fans. The substitution was seen as a symbolic gesture to honor Coleman's contributions to the club. Goodison Park which opened in 1892, has been the site of numerous historic events, including hosting a semi-final match in the 1966 World Cup. While the men's team will move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season, Goodison Park will continue to serve the community as the home of Everton Women and a venue for academy matches and community programs. The 2-0 win also saw Southampton lose their 17th game at the venue, making the Saints their favourite opponent at the Goddison Park. The atmosphere at Goodison Park was electric, with fans packing the stands and streets around the stadium to celebrate its rich history. Following the final whistle, supporters were treated to a special 'End of an Era' ceremony featuring appearances from current and former players, live music, and tributes to memorable moments at the ground.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Long live Goodison Park' or 'I'm surprised'? Fans on stadium decision
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.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Goodison's Greatest - Relive the Glory and Remember the Legends.
Step back into the golden eras of Everton Football Club with Goodison's Greatest– the ultimate tribute to the teams, triumphs, and towering figures that defined a proud 147-year history IT was an era when Everton ruled English football. Relive the triumphs, the legends, and the unforgettable glory days of the Toffees. Order your special edition tribute now - click here to secure your copy! Howard Kendall's iconic Class of 1984/85 stepped out of Liverpool 's shadows to win the league and European Cup Winners' Cup. The Toffees won the title again two years on, as well as the FA Cup during that halcyon period. Only the English ban prevented them from being favourites to win the European Cup too. As Everton say farewell to Goodison Park, this special edition celebrates that golden period for Everton, and looks back at other great Blues sides in the club's 147-year history - you can order a copy online by clicking here. We tell the astonishing stories behind the goal-laden Dixie Dean team, and of the superb Harry Catterick 1960s era, and the Ball-Harvey-Kendall title winners. Of how the 1995 ' Dogs of War' lifted the FA Cup. Not forgetting the first David Moyes era, when Everton challenged near the top of the Premier League. They each make for wonderful tales. But taking pride of place, of course, are those Everton double winners of the mid-1980s. We detail the behind-the-scenes stories from the key games that had Everton fans in raptures, including a 5-0 thumping of Manchester United that Everton's players reckon 'could have been eight or nine'. We also look at the stars behind the double triumph and what they have been up to in the decades since. Plus, of course, the gaffer – how the inspirational Kendall drove the success with his demands, man-management, training methods ahead of their time, and tactical genius – after his sliding-doors moment. On sale 21st May 2025 order will be dispatched from above date.
