Goodison Park has been Everton's home since 1892 but today will likely see the famous ground host its final Merseyside derby
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Goodison Park, the home of Everton FC
Goodison Park, the home of Everton FC(Image: Liverpool Echo)
"It was here when the first ball was kicked, it's been a matchday ritual for Evertonians since 1892", says Dave Bond. Dave is the general manager of the Winslow Hotel, a pub which has stood on Goodison Road in Walton longer than Goodison Park itself.
Everton FC made the move from Anfield to the country's first purpose-built football stadium in 1892 and The Winslow, found opposite Goodison's Main Stand, has been a mainstay for Blues ever since. Decked out in royal blue, with EFC memorabilia adorning all of its walls, the matchday boozer calls itself 'The People's Pub' - referencing 'The People's Club' nickname that former manager David Moyes launched upon his 2002 appointment.
Times are changing for Evertonians. This season is Goodison's swansong after 133 years as the home of the Blues, with the Toffees moving to a new 52,888 capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the 2025/26 campaign. As such, the matchday rituals that Dave speaks about will soon be very different.
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Originally from County Clare in the west of Ireland, but now living in Norris Green, Dave is a lifelong Evertonian. He has been in charge of the Winslow since 2014 and celebrates the vital role his pub plays in both Everton's heritage and the matchday experience.
He told the ECHO: "I remember, poignantly, sitting in here one time and speaking to a man in his 80s. He was about 86, he was with his son and his grandson.
"The grandson was married and his wife was pregnant, so there would have been four generations of Evertonians. The grandfather was telling me about how he would come in with his father and grandfather. If you put that all together, that's 100 years plus of history and memories right there at that table.
"They've all been coming to the Winslow. It's part of Goodison's DNA, this building, 100%. It's going to be gut-wrenching for everyone, it's going to be very emotional.
"I don't think the reality will really hit until February or March. I think it will hit home that it's the last ten games or whatever. It will be a countdown.
Dave Bond behind the bar at the Winslow Hotel on Goodison Road
Dave Bond behind the bar at the Winslow Hotel on Goodison Road
This weekend brings with it a significant milestone in that countdown. Today's Merseyside derby will be the last at Goodison Park, unless Everton are drawn at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Heading into the derby, the two Merseyside clubs are battling at opposite ends of the Premier League table. Arne Slot's Liverpool will be looking to extend their lead at the top, while Sean Dyche's Toffees will hope to create more breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.
As such, the mood in the two camps is rather different. That said, Everton head into the 245th Merseyside derby on the back of Wednesday's 4-0 demolition of Wolves, which has lifted the confidence somewhat.
Before the midweek game, the ECHO spoke to match-going fans about their hopes for Goodison's farewell and what the ground means to them. Sheltering from the rain under cover provided by the Main Stand's cladding, Steve Joyce, 63, and Andrew Whittall, 59, reflected on 50 years of watching the Blues in L4.
Steve said: "I'm a season ticket holder in the Lower Gwladys. We've had season tickets in the Main Stand and the Top Balcony, but we've ended up back in the Gwladys Street. It is the best atmosphere.
"When it starts bouncing it is like a bear pit. There are not a lot of grounds like it. When it starts bouncing all four sides start - you go to other grounds and it's not like that."
Steve and Andrew have plenty of fond memories to look back on. "The Bayern Munich game in 1985 stands out", says Andrew. Howard Kendall's Toffees beat the German giants 3-1 at Goodison in the semi final en-route to winning the 1985 European Cup Winner's Cup. "I wasn't a season ticket holder but I went to that game and it was bouncing", he adds.
For Steve, it's back to 1978 for his happiest memory. He said: "I actually remember the 1-0 win against Liverpool with Andy King's goal when we hadn't beaten them forever. It had been so long since we won against them. I remember staying in the Gwladys Street for maybe half an hour after the final whistle."
Season ticket holders Steve Joyce (left) and Andrew Whittall taking shelter from the rain outside Goodison Park
Season ticket holders Steve Joyce (left) and Andrew Whittall taking shelter from the rain outside Goodison Park
Both Steve and Andrew think times have changed for the club and worry that another potential battle with relegation could mean the last year at Goodison will not be one to remember. The ground has witnessed raucous scenes in recent years as Everton fans have driven the club to Premier League survival. "I fear it's going to go out with a whimper", says Steve.
Victory against Wolves in a trademark Goodison Park night under the lights meant that appears to be less of a worry - the club are five points clear of the relegation area and hoping to push on. An Everton win today would likely banish any fear of this season being a whimper.
Further down Goodison Road, sitting in the doorway to St Luke's Church on the corner between the Main Stand and the ground's famous Gwladys Street end, Steve Zocek, 64, is selling matchday programmes. He very much hopes that the Goodison atmosphere will aid a push as the season continues.
"Goodison, especially under the lights, is always special", he said. "Testing times now because we're struggling, the fans have got to be united, they've got to get behind the team.
"You've got to get behind the players", Steve added. "I think when we create that sort of atmosphere, hopefully we will see some wins."
A member of the Everton heritage society, Steve will miss Goodison immensely. He said: "The ground means everything to me. It's all I've ever known, so I just cannot embrace the new stadium. It's not just football reasons, there are a lot of personal memories as well.
"My father is not here any more, but he brought me here for the first time back in October 1968. It's not just the football memories, it's personal memories.
Steve Zocek selling programmes outside St Luke's Church, next to Goodison Park
Steve Zocek selling programmes outside St Luke's Church, next to Goodison Park
"I understand the reasons why they've got to move - to keep up with the Joneses, if you like. But I don't like Premier League football, as opposed to what it used to be."
Though Steve may not be among them, many Evertonians are excited for the future at a state-of-the-art stadium on Liverpool's waterfront. At The Brick on County Road - another stalwart matchday pub - manager Mark Leary, 65, thinks the move is exactly what's needed.
Lifelong Blue Mark has managed the striking Everton boozer for 14 years. He told the ECHO: "You've got to be a Blue being in The Brick. I've been going to Goodison Park since I was five years of age.
"I'm 65 now. It (Goodison) means to a lot to me, but there are more bad memories than good. If you look back over the years, I started going when we won the league in 1969/70.
"That was a great time and everyone older than me who went then will tell you how great the team was. Ball, Harvey, Kendall, Brian Labone at the back, Gordon West in goal, Joe Royle up front. They will tell you how good - but they only won one trophy."
Mark continued: "When people say, 'oh all those memories of Goodison'. Yeah, the memories will always be there. They will be there no matter where we play. But, for me, even though I own a business here, we need to move for the good of the club."
Everton's departure from L4 will have ramifications for County Road. Matchdays are a significant driver of revenue for its pubs, takeaways and shops, so the area will have to reinvent itself.
Asked about the future and whether he will stay at The Brick, Mark said: "I'm not certain yet - I'm not 100% certain what I'm doing. Do I still think that I'd stay here because the pub will survive if they keep it the way that it is? It will survive - it will always be a hub for Evertonians.
Mark Leary behind the bar of The Brick pub on County Road, Liverpool
Mark Leary, 65, is the manager of The Brick pub on County Road
"Alright, home matches might not be how it is now, but you've still got all the away games when people will come here. People will still call in, because it's an Everton pub. If you take Walton, even if you give it as a 60% Liverpool, 40% Everton, the 40% Everton all come here. The 60% Liverpool can pick one pub and go there.
"Obviously, we'll miss matchdays, they'll miss the trade. When I look around on County Road, because I own a pub, when I'm driving around I'm seeing that pubs have closed everywhere. County Road still has lots - and when one has closed, two have opened."
At the Winslow, Dave thinks the area will change "immensely" and that will be felt by every business. He explained: "Obviously I'm here on a matchday and I don't really get to leave these four walls until after closing time. But I know the other pubs - the Oak, the Brick and even all the shops.
"You've got a good 37,000 home fans and 3,000 away fans. They arrive here, two or three hours before kick off, some people end up bouncing around and they are spending money somewhere. If you take all that away - I know it's only every two weeks - but it's a lot. It's a lot of money."
The hope is that County Road and the Goodison area can reinvent itself with a slightly more organic economic system, less reliant on football trade. That said, the club itself has plans to keep its footprint in the area - in January 2020, Everton submitted outline planning application to Liverpool City Council for their Goodison Park Legacy Project.
The plans would see the stadium transformed into a range of community assets, including green space, affordable housing, retail spaces and green space. The club intends to keep the centre circle and the statues of the Holy Trinity (Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall) and Dixie Dean in situ.
How the Goodison Park Legacy Project could look
How the Goodison Park Legacy Project could look
Dave also has plans for the future of the Winslow. He has submitted a planning application to convert the building's upper floors into serviced accommodation, keeping the pub operating on the ground floor. He wants the venue to remain a key part of an Everton matchday, explaining: "It's now a rebirth, going back to that with serviced accommodation. We don't know what avenue it's going to go. We just want to keep on catering for football fans, but also in an accommodation sense."
For now, the focus is on this afternoon's game. With a 12.30pm kick off time, Dave is expecting the Winslow to be busy very early.
He said: "Every home game - except for derbies - the build up is pretty much the same. After the game it depends on performance and result. The derby just takes it to a stratospheric level.
"Especially if it's an early kick off. We won't get to draw our breath. As soon as we open that door, it will be full on from 9.30am.
"It's fun and the staff are good - I've pre-empted them, you've got to be on your game. It'll be full and then hopefully we will get something out of the game. A win would be fantastic."
If a win arrives, it will be a night to remember at the Winslow. Dave said: "When we get a win, after the match here, the atmosphere is brilliant. That carries through for many hours."
A general view of Everton's Goodison Park stadium in Walton, Liverpool
Goodison Park has been the home of Goodison Park since 1892
Evertonians will be savouring that atmosphere over the next six months. Everyone associated with the club hopes a bright new future awaits at Bramley-Moore, but leaving Goodison and all that it represents will be a wrench.
Before the Wolves game, Leanne, 51, summed it up as she told the ECHO: "I 100% will miss Goodison, I'll miss the Winslow. It sounds stupid but when you go downstairs (in the ground) and you score and you hear all the seats come up. There is not a noise like that.
"I know you've missed a goal, but people don't understand that noise. The wooden seats coming back - isn't it such a fabulous noise?
"People who don't come here, you can't explain to them what a wonderful noise it is. I'm going to miss all of the old-school about Goodison, but if Bramley-Moore is half as good as Spurs' ground, it's going to be magnificent. To be fair, I hope it's going to be better than Spurs' stadium, because it's Everton and because it's full of us."
Referencing a famous Everton chant, Leanne added: "The most important thing, it's on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey. So we've already got a song for a stadium, in the stadium, about fighting with all our might on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey - and that's what I love."