Everton news: Fan memories before final Goodison Merseyside derby

Long-serving Everton fans spoke to BBC Sport about their Goodison Park memories ahead of the final Merseyside derby at the iconic stadium on Wednesday.

Jackie – going to Goodison for 47 years – said: “It would be amazing to finish here with a win and to go into the new ground on the back of that. A win would be nice because they are the leaders too and it might stop them from winning the league like last season. The chant from last season ‘You lost the league, at Goodison Park’ will come out again on Wednesday. My first game was in 1978 and they were the glory years for the club and we have been through a rough patch since then.

“The memories of the derby here are not very good, but there have been a lot of draws, that is better than a loss. We don’t make it easy for them and things have definitely improved under David Moyes – the players have started playing for the shirt again. They have pride in playing again and we have our old Everton back, that is all I ever wanted.”

Mike – going to Goodison for 23 years – told BBC Sport: “Any game now is a countdown towards the last game here at Goodison Park. It is a hugely important game and we are the original club on Merseyside. It is always nice to get one over on our rivals, but it would be especially nice on Wednesday considering the season they are having.

“They lost the league at Goodison Park many times, last season and 2019 too. There were not many positives last season but beating them with such a powerful display was beautiful. We are not going to have too many more games under the lights at Goodison so hopefully we can say goodbye to the Grand Old Lady in style.

“It has been tough going the last few seasons but I was 14 years old when we beat them in the Lee Carsley derby and it was fun going into school the next day. Then it was a while until the Dan Gosling one. We can pin-point the derby wins here. We have not beaten them a huge amount at Goodison but hopefully that will change when we get to the new stadium.”