Goodison Park, home of Everton FC based in Liverpool, Merseyside and play their trade in the Premier League. Nicknamed the “Toffees” after an old local business in the Everton district which sold goodies such as the “Everton Mint”. Also nicknamed the “People’s Club” which former manager David Moyes described them as.
Disaster is going to strike in 2024 as Goodison Park will be no more… A ground that has been standing since 1892 and which has hosted some famous games over the years including World Cup games in 1966! But the end is near on what is a dying breed of football ground in this country…
Everton will be moving 2 miles down the road to Bramley Moore Dock which is currently under construction which will have a higher capacity and certainly a more modern feel to it. I bet that will be a cold ground in the winter months! Just like everyone else’s anyway…
I HAVE to visit Goodison Park before it’s demolished!! I’ve missed some cracking grounds over the years… Griffin Park, Millmoor and Maine Road to name a few but not this one! There’s only one man who can help me!
It’s Thursday night and it’s my birthday and I’m enjoying a leisurely night with a few friends and… *PING* I’ve got you a ticket!! LEGEND!!!!! It’s happening!! Everton vs Manchester United!!! Hurry up Sunday!!!
Sunday is here!! It’s 1pm and I am out the door, Merseyside, I’m on my way! 2 hours and a little bit more later and I am in Liverpool! All parked up with about 3 and a half hours to go before kick off… So now what?
A quick check in with my Everton mate later and I am en route. The short mile walk to Goodison Park and here it is!! The famous soon to be no more ground is right before my eyes!
There is a planned welcome of the team coach here today, this could be carnage!! I’ve secured my spot on the sidewalk just down the road from the Winslow pub and now we wait……… It’s filling up fast and the Spirit of the Blues as they call is starting to show! “EVERTON EVERTON EVERTON!”
Out come the pyros! And here comes the bus at long last! “So come on get moving! We don’t know the meaning of losing! Come on come on! get down to Goodison Park! WOOOO!” It’s a blue mist! It’s just like the old Stars in their Eyes! The blue mist is blocking out our view of the bus! “Tonight Matthew, I’m gonna be: Everton!” Never seen this many pyros at once before! Wow! Everton that was sensational well done!!
Now to the statues to meet my Everton mate. 5 minutes later and here he is! Perks of the hobby has struck Platinum tonight!! We’re also joined by Aldwin from the Netherlands. Some fantastic stories about FC Twente in the Netherlands who he supports from home! Erik Ten Hag’s old club.
Into the old Church we go and it’s a guided tour here from my Everton mate just like Gary gave me of York City earlier this year! They’ve got a lovely old memorabilia fair up on the top floor here! Well done Everton here!
Well time is ticking on, it’s time to get in! £50 for this Premier League tie… I don’t care! There it is! Mission accomplished just in time! The warm ups are done and now for the build up to kick off. “So come on come on get down to Goodison Park! EEEEEEVVERTON!” Brilliant so far! The drum roll starts! It’s time for Z CARS!! Out come the teams! That was a good countdown to kick off there from Everton! What will the game produce?
Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Everton win the ball back in midfield, Demarai Gray drives forward, he’s dispossessed and it comes to Alex Iwobi about 20 yards out, he’s going for the curler… OH! WHAT A GOAL!! WHAT A START FOR EVERTON!!!! Alex Iwobi that was sensational!!! 1-0! No need to worry about a 0-0 now!! Fantastic!
14 minutes now and Everton give the ball away in midfield and Man United pounce, it’s played to Antony running into the box on the right and he’s in… And he scores… United are level just like that! 1-1!
19th minute now and Everton give it away in their own half, Christian Eriksen drives at goal and he shoots… Good save by Pickford! It’s tipped out for a corner, it’s played short… Everton deal with it and clear.
27 minutes now and it’s a substitution for Manchester United and here he comes! Cristiano Ronaldo is on for an injured Anthony Martial. There’s one for the bucket list!!
36 minutes on the clock and Everton give it away again in their own half near their own box and it’s Marcus Rashford to pick it up, he plays it to Ronaldo, OFFSIDE? Play goes on and here’s Casemiro to shoot… Blocked! He gets it back to shoot again… Pickford can’t keep it out and… The flag does go up now! No goal!
41 minutes gone and Rashford has the ball on the left, he plays it into the middle, it’s Casemiro… OH! He’s missed! A free header and he’s somehow put it wide! Everton are reprieved!
2 minutes later and Alex Iwobi loses the ball in the United half and it’s played through to Ronaldo down the left, he gets into the box on the left and he shoots… He scores… Ronaldo doing Ronaldo things you have to say! Good finish and that is goal number 700 for Cristiano Ronaldo! Well done to him! That’s 2 goals just like that from Everton giving the ball away cheaply… Half time here with the score at 2-1 to United. “Viva Ronaldo!” The away end are loving that one. 1-2!
Second half, 48th minute now and it’s a corner to United and as I get my phone out for my usual corner picture, a fan in front takes exception… He’s asked me if I support Manchester United and goes to a steward… The steward calls me over and the possibility of being ejected and the groundhopping police being all over it… They’ve seen sense and moved me to another seat for my own safety when I tell them that I am a neutral who wants to see a game here before it is demolished.
I didn’t see that corner as I was talking to the stewards and obviously they didn’t score! Here is my new view of the game!
Can Everton get themselves back into this game here? 62 minutes now and Everton play the ball into the middle from the left, it comes to Iwobi to volley it across goal… But no one can get on the end of it and it rolls away…
79th minute now and Rashford wins the ball in the Everton half and he drives forward, he gets past James Tarkowski and he’s 1 on 1 with Pickford here… He’s around him… And he rolls it in! That should be that now for United now as Goodison starts to empty… But wait a minute… VAR review! Did Marcus Rashford handle that on the way through…… Yes he did! No goal!! Handball by Rashford! Looks like the Evertonians who started to leave may be on their way back.
We’re into Stoppage time now and Everton are throwing everything at Manchester United here! 90+1 and Jems Garner has the ball on the edge of the box to the left and he’s gone for the far corner… OH! What a save by David De Gea!! He’s tipped it wide brilliantly there and it will be a corner for Everton, in it comes… Calvert-Lewin with the header… It’s wide!
90+3 now by my estimations and Everton have a corner, Pickford is up! In it comes… In towards Pickford… He doesn’t get there but it will be another corner for Everton, in it comes again… It’s in towards Pickford again… he doesn’t get there again and Manchester United live to fight another day! It’s a throw in on the left for Everton, it’s played in… They win another corner, it’s whipped in again… It comes to James Garner to volley on the edge of the box… It’s blocked… And the Referee blows for full time! Manchester United hold on for the win.
FT: Everton 1-2 Manchester United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Sensational from the Everton fans outside before the game, inside the ground they were ok but the below par performance silenced them in many respects but it certainly had the potential to be higher. The travelling United fans did good I must say.
- The Ground: 10/10 – Without question!! One of the best grounds in the country and it will be a tragedy to see it demolished… Very old school and traditional which we are seeing less and less in this country sadly… Groundhoppers if you haven’t already, come on come on get down to Goodison Park!
- Expense: 7/10 – £55 for fuel and £50 for the ticket, was it worth it? I saw my good Evertonian mate, I met Aldwin, I saw 2 teams I’ve never seen live before, I’ve seen Ronaldo! I’ve seen a decent game but more importantly, I’ve seen Goodison Park! Yeah I’m happy enough with that!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – I’m not letting a miserable fan ruin my day! A massive thank you to my Everton mate for the ticket for this game and for my own guided tour by him! The scenes before the game with the team bus were a highlight for sure! Great to meet Aldwin today as well here!
32/40