Goodbye To Goodison – Contributions by the Everton FC Heritage Society to the final few weeks at Goodison
The coverage of the final day at Goodison was full of nostalgia, great memories, tears and unbridled emotion. Photographs and video by broadcasters and fans alike were everywhere. We had our own members documenting the events, some of which was shared online on the day, while other media will go into the archive to be reused at a later date in future projects.
The Society experienced its busiest time so far in its existence. On matchdays, St Luke’s was packed out, with queues frequently forming on Goodison Road to get inside. We were flooded with enquiries, mainly from the media, usually requesting help concerning the history of Goodison, and as the frenzy increased, so did the number of invitations from the broadcasters to have an expert from the society appear on camera, on the radio, in podcasts or in print.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of experts in the Society, and numerous members helped out to meet the demand. We even had time to make several documentary films, and organise two significant events of our own in the final week before the last game at Goodison; The Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening (held in Goodison’s Alex Young Suite) and the ‘Everton FC in Everton’ day at the site of Everton Village where we had guided tours and even opened up the Everton Lock-up (off the club crest) for the occasion.
Below is just a selection of the work featuring Society members in the approach to the final curtain.
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The Final Goodison Derby – BBC news item
Paul McParlan previews the final Goodison derby and speculates on the future of the stadium
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TNT Sports Football – Interview pre- Everton v Arsenal
Richie Gillham and Gaz Jones appeared on TNT Sports Football before the Arsenal game in a report featuring the work of Everton FC Heritage Society and the impending ground move.
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St Luke’s Photography Exhibition – the Leaving of Goodison
For the final few home games of the season, an excellent photography exhibition was set up in St Luke’s. Organised by Gaz Jones as part of the fund raising campaign for repairs to the church, it featured many of the young rising stars, regularly featured on social media as they documented the final days of Goodison Park.
Pictured are Lewis Royden of EFCHS, with , Lewis Guy, and Chris Wardle who also co-curated the Museum of Liverpool ‘Goodbye to Goodison’ exhibition.
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The NML Podcast – Goodison Park – Goodbye to the Grand Old Lady
The Podcast features presenter Toby Taylor with Ken Rogers and Mike Royden of EFCHS, with contributions from David Prentice (of Everton FC and also a member of EFCHS), Elle Barnes-Reen (EFC Staff / Tour Guide at Goodison Park); plus Everton legends Joe Royle and Derek Temple.
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In tandem with the Podcast, there is also a photography exhibition in the Museum of Liverpool’s Skylight Gallery;
‘Goodbye to Goodison’ – National Museums Liverpool Photo Exhibition
Co-curatored by PR officer, Chris Wardle (a Blue and a frequent visitor to St Luke’s), the exhibition celebrates the legendary stadium by featuring work by up and coming Everton fans themselves, all currently making a name for themselves across social media and in print.
Sarah Deboe (aka MINT Collective) of EFCHS is featured and also appears in this Mersey News Live interview.
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The History and Memories of Goodison Park | Full Documentary – Sky Sports
Rob Sawyer – featured throughout this Sky Sports documentary, contributing to the history of Goodison Park
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The 34th Dixie Dean Memorial Award – Radio Interview
Ken Rogers, Chairman of Everton FC Heritage Society talking on Total Sport Merseyside about the forthcoming Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening.
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The 34th Dixie Dean Memorial Award, 12 May 2025
Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening organised by Ken Rogers and Mike Royden for Everton FC Heritage Society.
Award presented to Derek Temple by special guest David Moyes, with former players Martin Dobson, Derek Mountfield, Peter Reid, Alan Irvine and Ronny Goodlass in attendance.
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‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ – 17 May 2025
Organised by Ken Rogers, with Mike Royden of the Society, in tandem with the Friends of Everton Park (FOEP), we once again welcomed Blues’ fans to their spiritual home.
On Saturday 17 May, the Everton FC Heritage Society opened the Everton Lock-Up below Browside for a very special ‘Everton FC in Everton Day.’
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‘Goodison Park has been part of saving my life’: Everton fans mourn club’s Mersey move – The Guardian, Sunday 18 May 2025
The departure of the men’s team from the ground marks the end of an era for many. Will new hosts Everton Women continue its legacy?
Jamie Yates of EFCHS opens up about how the club became his life line, and still plays a crucial part in his life today, as it does for many others in the community in many different ways.
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Dr David France OBE – Three Documentaries
Three documentaries have been filmed, one released, two in production. Dr France, as well as being the founder and Life President of EFCS, has introduced numerous initiatives relating to Everton FC, its fans and former players. He also put together the well-known Everton Collection – the finest collection of football memorabilia in the world, valued at £1.5 million, which is the feature of our first film.
Produced, filmed and edited by Mike and Lewis Royden, the films also feature Society members David Prentice, and Sarah Deboe, with support from Jamie Yates. Further releases will be announced on our social media and this website.
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My Everton – Dr David France OBE
My Goodison No.42: Dr David France’s Unique Relationship
Founder and Life President of Everton FC Heritage Society, Dr France has recently been featured on the official club website, and in a special focus in the final Goodison Match Day programme.
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Paolo di Canio Visits the Everton Lock Up – (for Sky Italia)
The Everton FC Heritage Society chairman Ken Rogers met up with Paolo di Canio at the lock up tower in Everton village today (2 May 2025) – and Paolo even got to go inside. (Ken is also a trustee of the Friends of Everton Park). Paulo is busy making a series of films about Football Stadia for Sky Italia, a made the stop before visiting Goodison for the final time.
He is well remembered by Blues for his act of sportsmanship in December 2000, when playing for West Ham, he shunned the chance of a possible match-winning strike by grabbing the ball from a cross inside the box to stop play, as the Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured on the ground.
Goodison gave him a standing ovation and FIFA awarded him the Fair Play Award.
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Goodbye to Goodison: How the fans are saying Goodbye to the Grand Old Lady After 133 Years
Rob Sawyer featured in this Goodbye to Goodison piece on the BBC Sport website;
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All Together Now Podcast
The All Together Now Everton Podcast, based at the Bramley Moore Pub, was filmed at Goodison Park for the final time. Tony Scott and Greg O’Keeffe were joined by Gav Buckland of EFCHS to discuss their first games, best players, and favourite memories from the Grand Old Lady.
Further involvement by the EFCHS came from Lewis Royden, who filmed, edited and produced the project.
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Have I Got News For You – Rob Sawyer and T.G.Jones
Rob Sawyer (biographer of T.G. Jones) tweeted; A nice surprise to be approached by the makers of Have I Got News For You for an image of Everton and Wales great T.G. Jones. The reason became clear when the latest episode was broadcast. Watch from 22 minutes in:
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‘It’s Our Home’ | Memories of Goodison Park | Evertonia Podcast
Evertonia is the Digital Magazine and Podcast website of Lyndon Lloyd, a founder member of EFCHS and former owner of ToffeeWeb.
Several members of EFCHS voiced their thoughts, memories and emotions in this moving podcast on leaving their home ground they know so well.
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A Tribute to Goodison Park – ITV / Granada Reports
A short extract from a longer piece by Granada Reports about Goodison’s final bow as a men’s football stadium.
Featured are Paul McParlan and Richie Gillham of EFCHS and a brief cameo from our founder, Dr David France OBE
Full version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PSYayqvZhQ
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Goodbye to Goodison (Paul Salt – BBC Total Sport Merseyside)
Featuring Paul McParlan of Everton FC Heritage Society (and @TheBlueRoomEFC ) discussing the news that Everton Women will relocate to Goodison Park from the start of the 2025/26 WSL season – and on the final match at Goodison.
“The history and tradition of Everton takes on a new step in terms of the Women’s team being based there”
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Jamie & Becky
Winslow
What Will Everton Fans Miss Most About Goodison Park? (BBC Sport)
‘The way the hairs stand up on the back of your neck when ZCars rings out’ – Lewis Royden
Mike Sky Sports interview
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Everton Women
Little Ava thinks she’s dreaming
After Lewis Royden (of EFCHS) took 5 year old Ava to watch the Women’s derby match at Goodison, she became a committed Blue. But a video clip of her went viral after the distraught Ava thought Goodison was to be demolished. But tears quickly turned to joy when she learned it would be used by Everton Women.
After seeing Ava’s reaction to Goodison Park being announced as Everton Women’s new home, Club captain Megan Finnigan sent her a video message, a signed shirt, and she will be the first mascot to lead out the women’s side at Goodison next season! Not only that, she was featured on stage with Giulia Bould in the Fan Zone before the final game against Southampton.
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Sky News Feature – Goodison to be used by Everton Women
A feature for Sky News regarding the news of a reprieve for Goodison and its future as the home for Everton Women. Interview with Richie Gillham, Secretary, EFCHS. (From around 52nd minute).