After bidding an emotional farewell to Goodison Park last weekend, this Sunday sees the last stand for ‘old’ Everton before the dawn of what a loyal but long-suffering fanbase hope will be a bright new dawn. Back when he was the Premier League’s youngest manager, it was a chastening trip to St James’ Park where David Moyes suffered his first defeat as a top flight boss.
Despite taking the lead just six minutes into the contest through former Magpie Duncan Ferguson, the then 38-year-old’s Everton were thrashed 6-2 by a rampant Newcastle United on March 29, 2002,
The home boss was Bobby Robson, who was to be knighted later that year, and was the Scot’s senior by over 30 years. Speaking to this correspondent in an exclusive interview in 2022 to mark the 20th anniversary of his appointment at Goodison Park, Moyes told the ECHO: “I remember him coming out and saying: ‘That result is a welcome to the Premier League for David Moyes’. When I heard that I thought: ‘Oh… you’ve got me now, the challenge is on’.
“Sir Bobby was a great man and a great manager but for a young coach it was like: ‘You think you’re doing okay, you’re going to find this tough’, and he was right in what he said.
“In the end we stayed up quite comfortably without it being too big an issue.”
Now 62, and the Premier League’s elder statesman himself, Moyes has ensured that Everton have stayed up quite comfortably without it being too big an issue in another Blues rescue mission after returning to the helm in January.
At the time of his re-appointment in January, the team were just one point above the relegation zone, but having got themselves mathematically safe from the drop with five games left to spare, back-to-back victories over Fulham and Southampton have got them going into their final fixture some 20 points clear of the bottom three.
Following Crystal Palace’s 4-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday, Everton are now confirmed in 13th place with absolutely nothing but pride to play for on Tyneside. It’s a refreshing position to be following their travails on and off the pitch just to remain in the Premier League in recent years.
Newcastle United go into the game sitting fourth but could finish anywhere from third to seventh, but while travelling Blues would like to spoil the party against an outfit with whom there has been little love lost of late, the only real incentive for the visiting players themselves will be trying to convince the manager they can be part of his plans next season after what promises to be a significant summer rebuild.
As much as Evertonians might be at pains to admit it, Eddie Howe’s men, can actually act as an inspiration for their own club as they look to challenge English football’s leading lights again.
One of the main bugbears with Blues when it came to the Magpies, was the way they liked to present themselves as a supposedly massive club when they hadn’t secured silverware since the footage was – like their kit – black and white. However, they got that monkey off their back in spectacular fashion with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final to lift their first domestic honour in 70 years.
Then, only last weekend, Crystal Palace lifted the first major trophy of their 119-year existence – providing we don’t count their 4-1 extra time success over Everton in the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup final when legendary Blues goalkeeper Neville Southall refused to go up the Wembley steps to collect his runner-up medal – by edging out Manchester City 1-0.
On the day, it seemed to mean more to the Eagles players and fans alike, but either way it was another of the so-called ‘Big Six’ (two of whom, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, will finish below Everton this season) to have been vanquished, and in the shape of Pep Guardiola’s side, the team, who along with the Reds, have been the dominant force in domestic football over the past decade.
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.
With this week also marking the 30th anniversary of Everton’s last major trophy when Joe Royle’s men defeated Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at the old Wembley, both of this season’s domestic cup finals serve to show beleaguered Blues what can still be achieved, especially with a now older and wiser Moyes, who guided West Ham United to their first gong in 43 years less than 24 months ago, at the helm.
As much as Goodison is Everton’s spiritual home, and produced some magnificent images last Sunday, after being the pre-eminent club ground for most of her existence, having been overtaken by so many rivals, the revelation last year that she had dropped to third from bottom of the Premier League for generating matchday revenue confirmed that the time for a new stadium move was long overdue.
One of the many to take part in the emotional parade of former players in the ‘End of an era’ ceremony was Francis Jeffers, who subsequently revealed he hopes the relocation to Bramley-Moore Dock and huge financial boost that brings, will ensure that in the future, the Blues don’t cash in early on their bright young talents like they did with himself, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Gordon who could line up against them for Newcastle United on Sunday.
Across Stanley Park, Trent Alexander-Arnold has already been booed by thousands of Liverpool fans while still turning out for the Reds, but at least he’ll have helped them to win a brace of Premier League titles, an FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup before he finally departs in his 27th year.
Gordon was 21 when he departed, Jeffers 20 and Rooney just 18. Hopefully the next generation of Everton home-grown heroes can stay a little longer and enjoy some success first because it’s the last 30 years not the nine separate decades that the Blues have lifted major honours in, which are the exception to the rule, when it comes to the story that this grand old team will now carry on by the banks of the Mersey.
Application window for Everton Fan Advisory Board opens
Everton’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) is welcoming applications from supporters, with two vacancies to be filled as part of the body’s annual election process. An independent group that is consulted by the club’s hierarchy and updated quarterly on short, medium and long-term strategic plans, the panel was established in 2021 as the first of its kind in the Premier League.
To ensure a voice is given to the broadest possible spectrum of Evertonians, the FAB is comprised of nominated members representing all supporter groups that have regular, structured dialogue with the Club, and elected representatives from the wider fan base. For 2025, the panel is looking to recruit two new members – one to take up a 12-month tenure and another to join for the coming three seasons.
The only criteria applicants must meet to be eligible for election is having had an Everton supporter number as of May 1, 2025. Fan Advisory Board members can be based anywhere in the world and will have the option to attend all meetings in person or virtually.
Supporters will be required to submit a biography (maximum of 300 words) and a video no longer than 60 seconds explaining why they believe they should be considered for election as part of their application. They will also have the option to state whether they wish to be considered for the one-year role, three-year role or both.
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Everton FC
Celebrate Everton's final game at Goodison Park
Everton has released some collector's items to mark the final men's game at Goodison Park. Fans can get their hands on this Framed Goodison Park Grass or the 1892 Heritage Top Limited Boxed Edition.
from £70
Everton FC
Get the shirt here
The application window is now open with Blues having until 11.59pm on Saturday May 31 to put themselves forward as a potential candidate.
A shortlisting process will then take place in early June, with Evertonians to be asked to vote for their preferred candidates from Friday June 6. The fan vote will close on Thursday June 26, with the result of the election to be independently verified by the Football Supporters’ Association before being announced in the first week of July.
The successful candidates must be available to attend the inaugural meeting of the 2025/26 Fan Advisory Board on Thursday July 7.
The shortlisting committee for this year’s election will be comprised of three members of the FAB who are not seeking re-election, a representative of the club’s governance team, Rev. Canon Ellen Loudon (Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Liverpool and Canon Chancellor of Liverpool Cathedral) and Frank McKenna (CEO of Liverpool-based Downtown In Business, former Leader of the Northwest Regional Authority and former Deputy Leader of Lancashire County Council).
Poets' Corner
Everton's depature from Goodison Park – well the men's first team – has inspired some Blues to pen some poetry. Here are a couple of examples that have been sent to the ECHO.
Written by lifelong Evertonians and friends, Andy Garner and Dave Morgan, this poem is also available to view on YouTube.
Our Old Lady In Blue
Goodison’s the name, she’s been around the block,
A scouse matriarch with a heart of rock,
133 years of tears and cheers,
And blood-curdling screams that shatter yer ears,
She’s got history, not afraid to give you a whack,
A mistress of chaos, she’ll have you crawling back,
Her growling dogs of war ready to bark, ready to bite,
But she'll give you hope, even on the darkest night,
She’s got a wailing siren that rattles your veins,
Taken us all through the mill, sheer joy and blistering pain,
Not like the rest, she’ll happily obstruct your view,
But you’ll never find a better place to watch the Royal Blue,
Years and years embodying the words on that crest,
But now we lay our Old Lady to rest,
Good night, dear Old Lady in blue,
As that final whistle blows, we’ll never forget you.
This one, by Simon Hayes, was written while he was in the Gwladys Street for Everton's final Goodison Park fixture against Southampton.
Farewell dear Goodison, our fortress of Blue,
Where dreams were born, and legends grew.
From the Gwladys Street, to the Bullens Road and to the Main Stand, Your echoes will linger, like time’s soft hands.
A 133 years, you stood with pride, Witness to triumphs, and tears I’ve cried.
The roar of the Goodison gang, that Z-Cars tune,
Moments etched beneath the moon.
I sagged my lessons, put my dinner money away,
To stand with the Toffees on match day.
So we bid adieu, but not goodbye, For in our hearts, you’ll never die.
Goodison’s legacy, bold and clever, Everton is, and always will be, FOREVER!