A general view of the outside of the stadium as fans gather outside prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Ipswich Town FC at Goodison Park. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
A general view of the outside of the stadium as fans gather outside prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Ipswich Town FC at Goodison Park. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Sunday is the end of an era that will prompt an outpouring of emotion few of us can yet comprehend. We all think we know how we will feel. But we do not really know.
What we can do, however, is celebrate. The hope for the future inspired by the club’s move to its stunning new arena was always tinged with the sadness of leaving what has been a second home for generations.
With confirmation Everton Women will now move into the Grand Old Lady, we have the best of both worlds.
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This is less a farewell and more a bright dawn for not one, but two important parts of Everton Football Club. The start of something special will not be marked by treasured memories being bulldozed away but instead by one club having two beating hearts.
That is a cause for celebration.
That supporters will still be able to watch matches at Goodison Park next season - and I would encourage fans to do so - does not make Sunday any less poignant.
It may change the dynamics - the day would be far different if there was still the potential for those famous stands to be demolished.
But it should not undermine the explosions of emotion that have characterised this historic farewell season. Nor should it take anything anyway from the many special moments so many have enjoyed as they made their final pilgrimages to visit Goodison in her current incarnation - even if the performances on the pitch have not always been worth savouring.
The memories I will have of this campaign will still resonate long into my future. Like, I am sure, we all have, I have tried to make the most of every occasion, to not let opportunities for reflection to pass.
Professionally, I have no choice - I have to know this might be the last cup game or the final match under the lights, the last pre-season friendly or display by the wonderful 1878s.
But personally, too, I have tried to make the most of the chances to pause for thought. I am privileged to do this job. Sometimes it is tough to keep sight of that - I am often one of the last people to leave Goodison on a matchday.
It is not unusual for me to have to call security to tell them the press room is now empty and then wait for someone to come and lock up that part of the building.
On the good days that is just a continuation of the fun. On the bad days, and there were some tough ones in the first half of the season, staying late to compile thousands of words about a game most supporters want to forget about can feel like a thankless task.
It does create intimate moments though and as I collect my thoughts in empty stands, it is hard not to get caught in the magic of the surrounding scene.
Goodison is more than a stadium. She is a marvel of footballing heritage, a tribute to heroes of the past and a legend in her own right.
Goodbye Goodison Park - Souvenir edition
Everton are soon set to say goodbye to Goodison Park as the Toffees play out their final few matches in their iconic home before moving to their incredible new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
And to celebrate this historic and poignant event, the ECHO has produced this stunning special souvenir edition that no fan can afford to be without as they bid farewell to their iconic and beloved home.
We have delved into the ECHO archives to unearth fascinating stories from the famous ground's past, including how it came to be built in 1892 and where its world-famous name came from.
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Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents on Merseyside from April 2, 2025.
You can also purchase Goodison's Greatest, our celebration of an era when Everton ruled English football. If you love Everton, you’ll just love this - order your copy today, simply click here!
And that's not all, also available is ParkLife, a a high quality, 312 page publication showcasing 133-years of Goodison history in pictures. Available here. Then there's Farewell to Goodison, celebrating 100 of the best moments at the Grand Old Lady, available to purchase now.
I have spent my life travelling up and down the country to watch football. Goodison is unique and I will miss the sides of her I have been lucky enough to enjoy so far.
Going to Goodison does not feel like work and I still walk down Goodison Road with a sense of awe. It is always the crowds outside that have been most emotive for me.
All strands of society gather in those tight streets surrounding Goodison on a matchday and everyone is equal during that assault the senses. Everton is the cornerstone around which so many lives are built. It is impossible to lose sight of what the club means to so many.
The men’s matchday experience might change - it may no longer come with a wooden seat or an obstructed view - but matchdays by the Mersey will be magic too. For a generation of supporters still waiting for success, it should kickstart those ambitions.
Sunday will be hard, of course it will. But now the beauty of the celebrations surrounding the Southampton game is that, while they will mark the end of an era, they are not THE end.
The heart-tearing departure from this corner of L4 has always been easier to come to terms with because of what awaits the club in the future.
The news Everton Women will now make Goodison their home has only amplified that. Yes, Sunday will be the end of something special. But it will also be a fresh start. And now it will represent not one, but two exciting new eras.