‘The old place will live on – but this was end of an era for Goodison Park’

Nearly four hours before kick-off, the blue smoke was visible circling Goodison Park. A day of history and high emotion would never pass by unapologetically in this grand old arena, which was not designed for peaceful farewells.

A brief football match broke out between celebrations marking the end of 133 years of men’s senior football, with Everton saying fitting farewell as Southampton accepted the mood and scored two goals in the first half.

As Evertonians made their way to this richly atmospheric location three miles outside the city center, whether they had match tickets or not, the familiar sights and sounds of Goodison Park still enthralled the senses.

Ten minutes’ walk to the parking lot? That’s almost an hour long.

Everton’s team had to take a different route into the stadium as a crowd poured into the streets from 8am, Goodison Road nearly impossible, with the coach hiding behind more blue smoke plumes rising into the Merseyside sunshine.

Fans of Everton were drawn to the famous landmarks.

Both the “Holy Trinity” statue, which is in honor of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey, and Howard Kendall’s 1970 title-winning midfield, and opposite St. Luke’s the Evangelist church, was damaged, as is former striker Dixie Dean, who still has the record for 60 league goals in 1927-28.

Before those fortunate enough to have the golden farewell ticket made their way into Goodison Park, the old Everton strongholds of The Blue House and The Winslow Hotel, which also had its Howard Kendall Bar, were packed. Over the years, the Blue Dragon Fish Bar and The Goodison Cafe, two traditional gathering places, saw unprecedented growth.

The former home of Everton’s women’s team will remain, but some rituals were taking place as the crowds made their way through the terraced houses that encircle Winslow Street, Eton Street, Neston Street, and Andrew Street’s neighborhoods.

Before kick-off, the stadium was packed as the familiar drumbeat introduced Everton’s famous “Z Cars” anthem. The air raid siren blared out as tears were shed as they gathered inside.

The enormous Main Stand, which was regarded as state of the art when it opened in 1970, and the famous Scottish architect Archibald Leitch’s signature criss-cross designs along Bullens Road Stand, packed in a sea of royal blue, set the tone for the park.

With the game winning, there was an almost eerie silence as Everton fans prepared for the final celebration. A wall of sound erupted as the board reached its final four minutes before referee Michael Oliver’s whistle cut the curtain.

Former Everton players Carlo Ancelotti and former manager Mikel Arteta and former manager of Arsenal Carlo Ancelotti received warm ovations as well, as did other former players who were now living elsewhere.

More than 70 former players gathered before being paraded in front of the fans as a violinist performed a moving rendition of the “Z Cars” theme.

They traveled from all over the world to share the occasion’s emotions.

Tim Cahill and Gary Stevens, who both won the FA Cup and the European Cup with two titles, flew in from Australia, while Paul Rideout, who won the 1995 FA Cup final against Manchester United, did the same. From Germany, Bob Latchford, who scored 30 goals in the 1977-78 season, received a prize of £10, 000 from a newspaper.

After a brief exile when his time on the board ended in acrimony, Graeme Sharp, once again, attended.

Wayne Rooney was greeted like the youngster who had already won the title with his famous goal against Arsenal, rather than the youngster who had abandoned his hometown to pursue success and ended up as Manchester United’s all-time top goalscorer. Of course, he returned to Everton after that.

In his second spell in charge, Everton manager David Moyes captured the atmosphere.

He admitted, “This was an extraordinary atmosphere.” “The crowd was incredible inside Goodison Park as it was outside before the game. Simply unbelievable. The goal was to succeed in the game and present Goodison well.

I believed there to be a “come-together as one club” feeling. Standing together, everyone.

“Everton provides a tremendous amount of support. It requires some sort of success. They have been anticipating this day for a while, and a new stadium is coming.

Never did I think I would be the one to welcome Everton to the new stadium, the 62-year-old Scot added.

I’m honored to have the chance to. It’s viewed by everyone as a second chance. Everton needs to be rebuilt once more.

“We’ve accomplished the job of staying up,” he said. Next year, we must work toward expanding on that. We will have a better chance of winning games if this atmosphere is created in the new stadium.

The man who first christened Everton “The People’s Club” when he arrived from Preston North End in March 2002 then brought up the old theme.

Moyes also wants The Friedkin Group’s new American owners to use the passion, color, and emotion of this day as a model.

The owners should be aware of what they are seeing, he continued. This ought to be bottled up, wrapped, and transported to the Mersey. This organization needs to resurrect.

“This team has 100 outstanding players,” the statement reads. We must re-create that situation.

Everton must now work to recreate Bramley Moore Dock, Goodison Park’s heart and soul, along the banks of the Mersey.

It will be challenging.

The Goodison Park structure had something special thanks to the old Leitch architecture, but bricks and mortar couldn’t.

Andy Gray, a former Everton striker who won the FA Cup, European Cup, and top-flight titles, said: “We will leave Goodison Park. We will never forget Goodison Park.

A lone trumpet player performed a final, melancholy rendition of “Z Cars” to end the show, leaving thousands of fans standing in their seats and unable to leave their permanent homes.

At Goodison Park, tears of joy, desperation, and relief have been shed. It was a mix of emotions this time.