My Goodison No.29: Happiness, Sadness & Everything Between

1 March 25

By Everton

My uncle Geoffrey took me to Goodison Park for my first match in November 1977, when I was aged 11. I was beyond excited. I had been a fan for several years before this, but had to make do with reading the football reports in the Liverpool ECHO, listening to the commentary on Radio City and, on special occasions only, watching brief match highlights on a portable black and white television!

My parents were not interested in football (yes, strange but true), which explained the lack of opportunity to get to a game, but when my first Goodison trip arrived, it was worth the wait.

We took our seats in the centre of Upper Gwladys at around 2.30pm. I could have happily taken my seat several hours earlier. The sounds, sights and smells, along with the anticipation all contributed to an unbelievably exciting atmosphere. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

As for the game, Everton beat Coventry 6-0 with a hat-trick from the legendary Bob Latchford. What a first game. My only sadness was that Uncle Geoff made us leave five minutes early so that we missed Latchford’s third goal. We could hear the huge roar in the distance. I know Geoff was concerned for my safety, but for me, any risk would have been worth taking to see that hat-trick goal!

I left Merseyside in 1984, just as the team became really successful, and have lived in the south east of England for many years, but my passion for Everton is undimmed.

When my first son, Ollie, was five years old, I told him he could support any team he liked as long as they did not play in red. “No, Dad,” he replied. “We are Everton and England,” he insisted. When his twin brothers, Alex and Tom, arrived, there was no way they would support any team other than Everton.

These days, I watch many matches on TV in our 'den' with the three boys. It is a far cry from the black and white portable TV of my youth. We have a picture of Goodison hanging above the TV. The walls are painted royal blue and we have signed framed pictures on the wall of Wayne Rooney, Duncan Ferguson and Seamus Coleman. We have LED lighting around the skirting boards. When we play at home, it is blue; for an away game it is black, white or yellow.

When Ollie passed his A-levels, he secured a place at Liverpool University. I was delighted – partly because it is a great university, but mainly because I knew we could have regular get togethers at Goodison! Alex, Tom and I get the train to Lime Street, meet Ollie under the station clock, then get the soccer bus to Goodison.

We have enjoyed some famous and surprising wins together, such as victory over Arsenal in Dyche’s first Goodison game. We have also had a few miserable moments, like the home defeat to Luton Town. Pre-kids, the 0-0 draw with Derby County in the 1990s also sticks in my mind as being particularly devoid of any interest. And now I’m thinking about it, the 0-5 defeat to the red side, when Keeley got sent off after 10 mins and Dalglish and Rush ran amok still occasionally keeps me awake at night.

But the rainy days make us appreciate the sunny ones even more.

The recent 4-0 destruction of Leicester City was particularly enjoyable. When we scored after 10 seconds I looked around the Lower Gwladys and it looked like 5,000 people had each won a million quid!

The last Goodison game I attended - and possibly my last-ever visit - was the 2-2 draw with Manchester United. That feeling when the ball hits the net at the Gwladys Street is as sweet and as thrilling as it has always been. I am confident that it won’t feel any different at the new stadium.

During the Manchester United game, I gazed across at the Upper Gwladys where I sat with Uncle Geoffrey 48 years ago and thought how thrilling, exciting, frustrating and life-enhancing my Goodison experiences have been. (Nearly) gone, but never to be forgotten.

By Jonathan Bond, Evertonian

A series of first-hand accounts describing moments that made us fall in love with Goodison Park, My Goodison - supported by the Club's Main Partner, Stake - is a new weekly offering here on evertonfc.com, bringing you the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present, for our final season at the Grand Old Lady.

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