The blue smoke could be seen rising around Goodison Park almost four hours before kick-off. This grand old arena was not built for serene farewells, so a day of history and high emotion was never going to pass off quietly.
A football match broke out briefly, separating the celebrations marking the end of 133 years of men’s senior football here, Everton delivering a fitting farewell as Southampton surrendered to the mood and Iliman Ndiaye’s two first-half goals.
The familiar sights and sounds of Goodison Park still assaulted the senses as Evertonians made their way to this richly atmospheric place three miles outside the city centre to simply say they were there, whether they had match tickets or not.
Ten-minute walk from the car park? Make that nearly an hour.
Thousands thronged the streets from 8am, Goodison Road close to impassable, forcing Everton’s team to take a different route into the stadium, the coach arriving on Bullens Road hidden behind more blue plumes of smoke rising into the Merseyside sunshine.
Everton’s fans were drawn to the famous landmarks.
‘The Holy Trinity’ statue, commemorating the 1970 title-winning midfield of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall and opposite St Luke the Evangelist church on the corner of Gwladys Street, was swamped, as was that of former striker Dixie Dean, who still holds the record of 60 league goals in 1927-28.
They will stay in place while Everton move to the spectacular 53,000-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, now known as the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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