Match Thread Everton 2-0 Southampton. Sun May 18th. 12 pm

[Vaughan]

Agree with all of that, but I'd add one thing - when the trumpet player played Johnny Todd in the style of the Last Post to finish the ceremony. Genius.

I thought the whole thing was very Everton - not too sophisticated, no big "name" entertainers, just True Blues having an old-fashioned wake for Goodison. When I watched some of it again on telly today, I thought if they'd have shown it in black and white it could have been the 1960s. No big over-the-top tifo style banners, no thumping techno music, no massive egos making it all about them.

Could have deffo done without the fireworks but there you go.

yes that was brilliant too

i thought it was sound looking back, i didnt see any of it as was on goodison rd after the game, but seemed about right

saw some complaints about it only being an hour but i think any longer would have dragged

once again you see the difference in people like Gethin Jones who has trained for his profession and knows how to interview someone and work a crowd compared to Bellew

really hope the club keep to using actual pros and not celebs and influencers for this kind of thing. that StillRyan seems like a lovely lad who means well but jesus christ all he can do is ask people how they feel and then give them a hug. people go to university and train on the job mentored by old pros to do this kind of thing, its not as easy as just making up a youtube channel and asking strangers on bold st what makes them happy

 

[marnie]

This is how it was for those not able to be there.

 

[Voodoo Billy]

Just wanted to thank you all for making it such a memorable day. So chuffed to see Big Nev there (as it really isn't his type of thing is it!), and all you blue boys and girls of all ages, you made it special. What a day, nothing negative (though the crap policing could have led to difficulties, particularly on Goodison Road, had the fans not been so careful of one another as we attempted to squeeze towards the turnstiles).
It'd be great if we could kick off Bramley Moore in the same vein next season, we've got something special building at the mo' and it would be a shame if we lost it again. Oh, and the crowd singing 'There She Goes' has to be a keeper, it was magical. Thank you blues.

 

[MikeyMike]

yes that was brilliant too

i thought it was sound looking back, i didnt see any of it as was on goodison rd after the game, but seemed about right

saw some complaints about it only being an hour but i think any longer would have dragged

once again you see the difference in people like Gethin Jones who has trained for his profession and knows how to interview someone and work a crowd compared to Bellew

really hope the club keep to using actual pros and not celebs and influencers for this kind of thing. that StillRyan seems like a lovely lad who means well but jesus christ all he can do is ask people how they feel and then give them a hug. people go to university and train on the job mentored by old pros to do this kind of thing, its not as easy as just making up a youtube channel and asking strangers on bold st what makes them happy

Agree again - Gethin Jones was really slick, Bellew wasn't great. I don't think it needed to be any longer - in fact, it could even have been a bit shorter. When you were in the ground it was hard to hear any of the interviews because of the tin-pot Goodison sound system. Some of that could have been replaced with a bit more communal singing, because the crowd was in great voice.

It couldn't have been much better to be honest. My only complaint really was the crush outside the ground before the game, coming down Spellow Lane onto Goodison Road. It was a bit scary at times, and people were getting quite upset. Absolutely no police or stewards to be seen. I was heading towards the Bullens, and once you got past the fan zone it was fine, so it just could have been organised a bit better.

 

[Vaughan]

Agree again - Gethin Jones was really slick, Bellew wasn't great. I don't think it needed to be any longer - in fact, it could even have been a bit shorter. When you were in the ground it was hard to hear any of the interviews because of the tin-pot Goodison sound system. Some of that could have been replaced with a bit more communal singing, because the crowd was in great voice.

It couldn't have been much better to be honest. My only complaint really was the crush outside the ground before the game, coming down Spellow Lane onto Goodison Road. It was a bit scary at times, and people were getting quite upset. Absolutely no police or stewards to be seen. I was heading towards the Bullens, and once you got past the fan zone it was fine, so it just could have been organised a bit better.

what sort of time was that? i was very wary of crushes as i got caught in one for a couple minutes at Bournemouth on goodison rd in 23 and it was scary. knew sunday would be even busier

 

[Ray Purchase]

No words required.

 

[Del-boy]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned. But there is an Everton exhibition at the museum of Liverpool. Running until the 21st September. A lot of pictures of fans and Goodison.

 

[MikeyMike]

what sort of time was that? i was very wary of crushes as i got caught in one for a couple minutes at Bournemouth on goodison rd in 23 and it was scary. knew sunday would be even busier

We arrived around half ten I think. Took me a good half hour to move about 50 yards til i was through the gates by the Fan Zone.

 

[Voodoo Billy]

what sort of time was that? i was very wary of crushes as i got caught in one for a couple minutes at Bournemouth on goodison rd in 23 and it was scary. knew sunday would be even busier

It was about 11.00 onwards, lots going from the Spellow Lane corner down Goodison Road to their turnstiles and others coming in the opposite direction. I'm 56 and my lads are grown up but I'm sure it was pretty uncomfortable for anyone with younger kids in there. Once we got in (turnstiles 1 and 2) there were about 20 police inside eating their lunch and couldn't have cared less what was going on when I approached them, and I wasn't the only one who tried.

 

[PKwalnuts]

It was about 11.00 onwards, lots going from the Spellow Lane corner down Goodison Road to their turnstiles and others coming in the opposite direction. I'm 56 and my lads are grown up but I'm sure it was pretty uncomfortable for anyone with younger kids in there. Once we got in (turnstiles 1 and 2) there were about 20 police inside eating their lunch and couldn't have cared less what was going on when I approached them, and I wasn't the only one who tried.

Exactly the same, copper pretending he didn't know where them barriers where, goading me with his faux ignorance as I was going on, only to contradict himself at the end when I was chewing his ear off still. Started with asking them what are youse doing in here when there are wheelchair users who can't get through and kids being spearated, and ended with so you did know about it. Really pissed me off

 

[Voodoo Billy]

Exactly the same, copper pretending he didn't know where them barriers where, goading me with his faux ignorance as I was going on, only to contradict himself at the end when I was chewing his ear off still. Started with asking them what are youse doing in here when there are wheelchair users who can't get through and kids being spearated, and ended with so you did know about it. Really pissed me off

Must have had one hell of a food budget, still chomping away on crates of food at half time.

 

[Socistep2]

IMO the police should have closed Walton lane at 9-9:15, they left it too late and ended up with those cars and 3 lorries stuck and not moving, we were by the abbey and ended up likely blocking people's view

 

[MACCA75]

We arrived around half ten I think. Took me a good half hour to move about 50 yards til i was through the gates by the Fan Zone.

Part of the problem was that nobody near me (Near the park end or way down Goodison Rd) had any idea that the coach had already been diverted past. So the crowd just kept growing instead of dispersing a bit.

 

[toffee82]

What a day. What a day. My lad and I sailed across the Irish Sea in glorious sunshine, docked in Liverpool at 09:30 and headed the the Old Lady. Such scenes. The reek of the flares, the singing, the hypnotized Saints fans, the Toffee who hugged me simply because I offered to take a picture of him, his daughter, and his wife at their Bullens Road turnstile, The years fell away to 1973 when the 15 year old me visited Goodison for the first time. Day trip from the IoM with 3 mates. Such excitement. Then 2025 came back into focus… siren, Z Cars, Blue Thunder. Ndiaye’s left foot. All for one and one for all. Final whistle. Celebration. Great names on the pitch, heroes of yore, a Toffee Lady. A Blue infused blur of happiness. But before those waves of joy rolled in…that violin…oh that violin. 39,201 hushed…the notes hung in the air like Dixie…a thrilling lament…a final parting…What a day. What a day.

One massive blue family.


On that note, can you put us up for a couple of weeks for the TT!!


Seriously though, it must have been amazing to come in on the boat. Weather was perfect.

 

[toffee82]

Another story from Sunday.
Ive sat next to the same bloke for about 10 years. He brings one of his lads every week alternating between his two boys. Ive watched them grow up and they are now about 14 and 17. They were both in the seats on Sunday and i asked where Dad was. They told me they needed three tickets and dad had been trying all week. They came, all together , them thinking it was all sorted. He used his phone to get access for his two lads and they went through the turnstiles. Then he stepped away. He stayed outside. He had not really got the third.

In actual tears reading that.

Beautiful.