The ECHO spoke to Evertonians around Goodison Park on a historic day for the club
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Tony Martin, 59, from Bootle, and Andrew Wilson, 28, from Belfast at Goodison Park
Tony Martin, 59, from Bootle, and Andrew Wilson, 28, from Belfast at Goodison Park
(Image: Dan Haygarth / Liverpool ECHO)
Families and strangers came together for a "once in a lifetime experience" as they marked an end of an era at Goodison Park. Everton played their final men's first team match at their home of 133 years on Sunday, beating Southampton 2-0.
The men's side will move to their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season, with Goodison becoming the home of Everton Women. It was an emotional and historic day for the club - and it was marked in style by the fans.
Masses of Evertonians gathered around the ground hours before the midday kick off, singing club songs and turning the sky Royal Blue with flares and pyrotechnics, hoping to welcome the team coach. But with so many fans lining the streets, the team bus was forced to take another route on their way to the ground, with an announcement on the PA system outside Goodison Park to confirm the news.
Close to 40,000 lucky Evertonians secured tickets but those without them stayed around the ground in huge numbers. A party atmosphere continued around the ground, with groups chanting and letting off flares outside the Winslow Hotel on Goodison Road and outside The Brick on County Road.
Towards the Gwladys Street end of the ground, many people gathered simply to stand outside and listen to the game, hearing Goodison in full flow for one final time. They chatted and cheered Everton's goals, brought together by a love of the historic stadium, affectionately known as the 'Grand Old Lady'.
Brother and sister Barry Connor, 70, and Sheila Brake, 71, from Garston, set up camping chairs on Goodison Road. Not getting tickets would not stop them from being a part of a historic day for Everton.
Brother and sister Barry Connor, 70, and Sheila Brake, 71, from Garston on Goodison Road
Brother and sister Barry Connor, 70, and Sheila Brake, 71, from Garston on Goodison Road
Barry told the ECHO: "I've been coming since 1968, when I was eight. It means the world to me. I remember climbing on top of the church to watch the match when I was a kid.
"I'll miss the atmosphere. The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic - you can't beat it. Goodison is so close, so tight. We had to come here and take in, sitting here. And soak it all up. "
Sheila said: "I've been coming since I was 17, when I met a young man who was an Evertonian. We used to come, we had season tickets. Sadly he passed away just two years ago.
"My brother has been bringing me since. It's just unfortunate we couldn't get tickets today. I've cried this morning. I just love Goodison, the whole atmosphere and what it represents. We've made lots of friends here."
Tony Martin, 59, from Bootle and Andrew Wilson, 28, from Belfast, did not know each other before they arrived on Goodison Road this morning. But they spent the day chatting and swapping stories about Everton as they listened to match ebb and flow from the street.
Tony said: "I woke up at 3am - I just couldn’t sleep. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. It was one of them when you had to be here. I met a lovely guy like Andy, that’s what Everton’s about. That’s what we do.
Everton fans enjoy the atmosphere outside Goodison Park this morning ahead of their farewell match at the stadium today
Everton fans enjoy the atmosphere outside Goodison Park this morning ahead of their farewell match at the stadium today
"We didn't know each other but we both came down today to soak it all in. I've now met Andy and we've swapped stories and reminisced. It's just nice to be here, it's an emotional day.
"I grew up in Kirkdale, as a kid I'd come up here and walk around the ground. And I've ended it that way, there's a bit of closure that way.
"I'd love to be in there, don't get me wrong. But I started and ended it the same way. It's just amazing to be around Evertonians."
Andrew added: "I just had to come down today. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't. I know it's staying on as the women's ground, it's still emotional.
"I thought there was no chance that I'd get a ticket to the final game. Because my family live just down the road, I thought I'd come down anyway with no ticket because the atmosphere would be good. It’s the People’s Club for a reason."
Father and son Chris Gregson, 48, and Morgan Greson, 23, travelled from Conwy, North Wales, to be around Goodison. For Chris, it was the best atmosphere he can remember in more than three decades of coming to L4 to watch Everton.
Father and son Chris Gregson, 48, and Morgan Gregson, 23, from North Wales
Father and son Chris Gregson, 48, and Morgan Gregson, 23, from North Wales
He said: "I've never seen anything like that in my life and I don't think we'll see anything like that again. We wanted to come down and experience it. What an atmosphere."
Asked what he would miss about men's games at Goodison, Chris said: "A few years ago when we were playing Krasnodar in the Europa League and it was p***ing it down with rain. We were under the cover above the turnstile with a Hot Wok.
"It's things like that you remember. You remember the great goals and the great performances, but it's things like that.
"It might be different for us, because when we come we make a day of it. We come here and we have brekkie down the road, come up for a chippie.
"You do the same things, you see the people. It's the process, the habit, the familiar things that I'll miss.
"It's the camaraderie. So many people come from so many different backgrounds, but when you're in there, everyone's a Blue. It doesn't matter where you've come from - it's brotherhood.
"The moments you share aren't always good. But it's about the characters, the people we've sat with in the Upper Gwladys. It's a hell of a family - it is the People's Club."
For Liam Mattocks, 59, from Bootle, today brought back years of memories. His family had tickets but he was unable to get one himself, so he stood outside St Luke's Church at the Gwladys Street End and took in the atmosphere.
He told the ECHO: "I thought I'd come up anyway just to take in the atmosphere and experience the last game. I came here for the first time with my dad when I was six, walked up these streets.
"It just brings it all back to you - it's 53 years ago. There's no word to sum it up, it's just everything. Everyone has a reason why they're here outside today- family, memories.
Liam Mattocks, 59, from Bootle, outside St Luke's Church on Goodison Road
Liam Mattocks, 59, from Bootle, outside St Luke's Church on Goodison Road
"Walking away will hurt people, you'll see tissues, grown men crying. I've had a few tears today, things come back to you, hearing the roar of the crowd and knowing you're not in there. My lad's in there, but it's fantastic just to be here. I'd be out in these streets even if it was raining."
Like everyone in and around the ground today, Liam will miss the routines that have been central to Everton matchdays for generations.
He said: "It just gets you, it all builds up. Everyone's here for a different reason but they're all similar to you.
"I'll miss being with these people, them being around you. I try and explain to my missus what it does to you, just to be there when a goal goes in and you go crazy. It's an amazing thing, belonging. Everton Football Club sums it up, the People's Club. It really is.
"The streets on the way, walking up. Families all in blue walking up, taking it all in for one last time. We've got a new stadium to go to but this is the first of everything. It's got so much, it's unique. I'm standing next to a church, we've even got a church."
Those who were lucky enough to be inside Goodison said the game was a fitting way to end an Everton era. Father and son Brian Sharkey, 86, from Dingle and Michael Sharkey, 51, from London, will remember it forever.
Michael Sharkey, 51, and his dad Brian Sharkey, 86 outside Goodison
Michael Sharkey, 51, and his dad Brian Sharkey, 86 outside Goodison
Michael said: "It was amazing. It is one the best atmospheres at Goodison. We've had other games that we've been desperate to win. But that was special - even with not much to play for.
"I made sure I didn't cry. I was definitely emotional. There were quite a few tears in there from a few people."
Ray Griffiths, 86, from Rock Ferry and Dave Hughes, 75, from Ellesmere Port, have been coming to Goodison's Main Stand together since 1970, when Dave married Ray's sister. They are heartbroken that the men's side are leaving Goodison, where Ray has followed them since 1946.
Dave Hughes, 75, from Ellesmere Port and Ray Griffiths, 86, from Rock Ferry, outside Goodison Park
Dave Hughes, 75, from Ellesmere Port, and Ray Griffiths, 86, from Rock Ferry, outside Goodison Park
He told the ECHO: "For me, personally, it's been a sad day because I just love this place. I've been coming since 1946, just after the war. I got in free on my first time, I went under the turnstiles.
"It was a great, fantastic atmosphere. It always is. I'm going to miss it so much, I've been coming here for so long. It means everything.
"But it was a fitting send off, we won, we got the three points and everyone was in a good mood. It was great."