Everton opened a new chapter in their history after moving to Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, and one servant of the club missed out on the Goodison Park farewell
Graeme White working as Goodison Park's stadium announcer
Graeme White was Goodison Park's stadium announcer for nine years before being fired in 2024
Former Everton stadium announcer Graeme White has described his heartbreak at being let go before the club's final season at Goodison Park. White spent nine years as the announcer at Everton's iconic home but was informed his services were no longer required in the build-up to the 2024/25 campaign.
It was a "tough" pill to swallow for a man who had realised a dream in becoming part of the club so close to his heart. White, who had previously worked at the club in other roles, is a lifelong Toffees fan who once had dreams of pulling on the blue himself but was content accepting a sideline role for almost a decade.
After 133 years at Goodison, Everton left the ground for the upscaled Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer. White spoke on Into The Blue, a documentary produced by All Out Football, brought to you by SkyBet, to discuss how he became announcer, as well as the agony of being let go before the emotional farewell at their ceremonial home.
"That first experience was unbelievable," he said. "Going with my family. No better feeling than walking towards Goodison Park, past Stanley Park, to the ground, actually going in the ground and seeing the inside of Goodison and looking around thinking, 'This is a special place.' The atmosphere: unbelievable.
"[I] wasn't good enough to play for the club. However, I was able to take another path, and that was to go [and] work for Everton Football Club. And then get the dream job of announcing the teams, which is pretty special.
"The first time was against Watford. I had more nerves than I've ever experienced before, but then you open the microphone, you read the Everton team, and once you shout that first name on the team sheet and hear the crowd's reaction, you think, 'Yeah, this is great. I'm gonna enjoy this.'"
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And so White did, revelling in his intimate role so close to the team he adored. The Toffees strung together a series of top-half finishes at the start of White's tenure, but by the end of his stay, the club had become accustomed to the perennial relegation battle.
The Toffees were preparing for the 2024/25 campaign when White was told he was surplus to requirements. And it meant he would not have a role to play in their final term at Goodison before making the move to Bramley Moore this year.
"It was tough," he said of the moment he was informed he'd been let go from the announcer position. "I won't deny that, because I'd been a part of Everton Football Club for 29 years. In fact, I'd been a part of Everton longer than I'd been married.
"It was disappointing, but I appreciate, like in life, things have to change, and things change for a reason. I miss it immensely, but I'm an Evertonian. So I miss doing the job of being a stadium announcer. Goodison Park, you know, it was a special place. It was a special job. Yeah, I'm gonna miss it."
Supporters greet the team before last game at Goodison Park Stadium, the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton
Everton fans gave Goodison the send-off it deserved
Everton hold the record of having played the most seasons in the top flight of English football, and the overwhelming majority of that spell was spent at Goodison. They've also played continuously in the first tier since 1954, with only Arsenal boasting a longer streak.
As for White, he hasn't given up on his days as part of Everton's in-house team just yet. And there remains a glimmer of faith that he may yet be brought back on board at Hill Dickinson Stadium to be part of the matchday duties once more.
"I'd love one day to get that phone call and be invited back to do something," he concluded with an air of hope. "You never know. You just never know."