Everton — On a sun-tinged evening laced with nostalgia, Everton Football Club said goodbye to Goodison Park — their home for 133 years — with a victory, a parade of legends, and more than a few tears.
Wayne Rooney stood on the centre circle once more, joined by over 60 former players. As fans chanted his name — and cheekily reminded him of his Manchester United years — he smiled and reminded them, “I am a Scouser, by the way — a young lad from Crocky.”
“I grew up with Everton,” he added, as thousands roared in response. “I still love the club. I know we’ve had ups and downs. Hopefully we can carry the history of Goodison to the new stadium.”
The final whistle had just sounded on a 2-0 win over Southampton. The match, while a routine end-of-season fixture in league terms, marked something far greater: the final bow for one of English football’s most storied grounds.
An Unforgettable Goodbye
Iliman Ndiaye scored both goals in the first half, easing the nerves and allowing supporters to soak in the occasion. What followed was a procession not of pomp, but of pride.
Graeme Sharp, Peter Reid, Duncan Ferguson — names etched into Everton folklore — walked the pitch as fans held up scarves and wiped away tears. Boxer Tony Bellew, a lifelong Blue, hosted the tribute.
Former Australia international Tim Cahill, visibly emotional, paused his tribute to pay respects to late chairman Bill Kenwright. “Bill will be watching down,” he said quietly, as the crowd fell still.
Andy Gray, who lit up the 1980s with Everton, drew one of the loudest cheers. “I thought I’d seen everything in football until I came to Everton,” he said. “The atmosphere here — it was extraordinary. We may be leaving Goodison, but Goodison will never leave us.”
Outside the ground earlier in the day, supporters gathered in their thousands, chanting and cheering as the team bus arrived. Blue smoke filled the air. Chants echoed through the streets of Walton.
Moyes: “We Had to Get This Right”
Though safe from relegation, Everton manager David Moyes — now in his second stint — knew the occasion called for more than just a performance.
“The scenes outside the stadium were incredible,” he said post-match. “I told the players we had to finish the Goodison era properly. There was pressure, no doubt. Not for points — but for pride.”
Moyes, who guided the club through one of its most stable spells in the early 2000s, added: “Some of the club’s greatest players were in the stands. That mattered. It mattered to all of us.”
The Next Chapter
Next season, Everton’s men will move across the city to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, nestled along the banks of the River Mersey. The women’s team will remain at Goodison for now, offering a brief extension of the ground’s legacy.
For many supporters, however, Sunday marked the real goodbye.
“It’s the end of an era,” said season ticket holder June Ellis, 67, who’s been attending matches since 1964. “I was here for Kendall’s team, for the dogs of war, for Rooney’s debut. I’ll be there at the new ground. But this place — it’s part of who we are.”
Goodison Park has been witness to triumphs, heartbreak, and history. And though bricks and mortar will give way to glass and steel, one thing is clear: Everton may leave Goodison — but Goodison will never leave Everton.
