Sport
Goodison Park set for an emotional farewell
After 133 years and over 1,000 matches, Everton will play at Goodison Park for the final time on Sunday. The match against Southampton promises to be an emotional occasion. Some fans don’t want to leave. This historic old stadium has been an ever-present in their lives. It’s a spiritual home for so many in Liverpool.
When the final whistle blows against Southampton, though, a new era will begin for Everton. Had the Toffees bid farewell to Goodison Park a year ago, when they were originally meant to, some might have felt a sense of foreboding such was the uncertainty around the club at the time. Now, there might even be some excitement over what’s next.
The 53,000-capacity Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium is a symbol of the ambition Everton have. The new venue will be a destination in its own right, sitting on the banks of the River Mersey. Everton have done their best to incorporate the identity of the club while also adding the sort of modern facilities they desperately lacked at Goodison Park.
There is more than just a new stadium for Everton fans to look forward to. David Moyes has steadied the team on the pitch with the Toffees now comfortable in mid-table after flirting with relegation for a portion of the campaign. The Scot has improved the team at both ends of the pitch and has already spoken about building again for next season.
Dan Friedkin’s takeover of the Merseyside club has put Everton on a stronger financial footing. While the American businessman hasn’t enjoyed much success as Roma owner, he has vowed to provide transfer funds for the summer. Everton could be set for a busy transfer window. They need new players in almost every position.
First, though, Everton must say goodbye to a home that has been witnessed the good times, and the bad, for the last 133 years. “I won’t want to go out with anything but a win. I’ve told the players it’s maybe the biggest game of the season for us next weekend,” said Moyes. “And we’re going to be watched by great players, great managers. People who are far better than any of us, who have graced it.
“So we’ve got to put a show on and we’ve got to try and show that we can play well. This was a big result for us because it gives us a chance to think about what we can do next week. It will be emotional. I think it will be more because there’s so much in the community there. It’s a brilliant old lady of a stadium. And because of that, it will be missed.”
Moyes has surely learned lessons from the mistakes West Ham made in leaving Upton Park for the London Stadium eight years ago. The Hammers didn’t just leave behind a stadium, but a community too. The East London club lost a part of its identity when it moved into a stadium built for the Olympics, not football.
After several failed stadium moves, Everton have been careful not to follow West Ham’s example. As the self-styled ‘People’s Club,’ the Toffees need their fans. They are the lifeblood of the club and have got Everton through some tough times when outsiders lost faith and believed they were doomed to drop out of the Premier League altogether.
It’s been a long time since Everton were competitive near the top end of the Premier League table, and it might be a longer time until they are back at that level. English football has no shortage of well-run, ambitious clubs. Finally, though, there is genuine hope that Everton could one day be among them.
