Everton news: Fan memories before final Goodison derby vs Liverpool

Natalie – who has been attending Goodison since 1995 – told BBC Sport: “With our recent upturn in results, the threat of relegation has reduced for us so this derby is all about the beginning of the Goodison goodbye for the fans. It is hugely important for us to finish with a win or at least without a defeat. We know Liverpool fans would love to rub it in but we have to avoid that.

“A win on Wednesday would forever be up there as a favourite derby win. The last Everton player to score a winner in the derby at Goodison will go down in history.

“Your first derby win is always special and mine was a 2-0 win in 1997. The best bit for an eight-year-old me was shouting “dodgy keeper” repeatedly at David James. I felt like I was ready to join the ‘Ultras’.”

Paul – coming to Goodison since the early 60s – commented: “I will feel emotional at the game on Wednesday, remembering all of the great players I have seen in a blue shirt over the course of the 60 years I have been coming to Goodison. I am fervently hoping the team can give us a win that will honour the Blues of the past. If we do win, it will be remembered for a very long time.

“A bad memory from derbies at Goodison is from 1982 when defender Glenn Kealey was signed from Blackburn and given his debut against Liverpool. He was sent off after half an hour. We ended up losing 5-0 and what made it worse was I was sitting next to a Red. It was the longest afternoon of my life!

“The good memory is from 1994, Joe Royle’s first game as manager and bottom of the league with only one win all season. Liverpool were near the top but we won 2-0 with Duncan Ferguson’s first goal for Everton and ended up winning the FA Cup at the end of the season.”