Everton manager David Moyes felt the final Goodison Park farewell offered a glimpse of what the future could be like when the love affair between fans and the club is rekindled.
Iliman Ndiaye scored the last goals in a 2-0 victory over Southampton as the ground signed off 133 years of men’s senior football.
The new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock offers a chance for a reset for a club which, for a decade, has been beset by infighting between supporters and the former ownership and poor results on the pitch.
Goodison, you''ve never shone so brightly. 💙
🎥 https://t.co/3SBRHgZKNf#EndOfAnEra pic.twitter.com/1a9THuKZ2I
— Everton (@Everton) May 18, 2025
Moyes has returned for a second spell and, with new owners The Freidkin Group, who made the decision not to demolish Goodison but hand it over to the women’s team, there is a genuine feeling of optimism, while the tens of thousands of fans who swarmed the streets before the game and then filled the ground brought a different energy.
“I’m actually enjoying it,” said Moyes when asked how he was feeling.
“Some questions make me think, ‘This is difficult to take’, but there is more a feeling this might be a club which is coming back together.
“Before there was a real break-up of a sort of the love affair with the supporters, the players, the club, the owners.
“We are all trying to get back in bed together, if you know what I mean. If we can take what we had today to the new stadium, it will be something.
“I was worried today. Everyone had been talking about this for so long.
“The scenes outside the stadium were incredible and it felt like a club which has needed some big days and some big things in the future, so let’s hope this is the start of it.
“I tried to make a point to the players that what couldn’t happen was we left here not finishing it off right.
“We did the job which we needed, we got the victory, we’ve got 45 points and the pressure was off the players because of that, but also on because of the occasion and who was sitting watching them.”
Bottom side Southampton suffered their 29th defeat of the season, but interim boss Simon Rusk said they were still trying their best.
“First half we struggled to get going, we knew it was going to be an intense atmosphere and the first goal is the last thing you want as team bottom of the league,” he said.
“The second half was really encouraging, I thought the players really dug in. The season has been a tough one, there is no denying that, but all we can do is keep going. We wanted to end the season with dignity.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.On this day 2019 Hojlund level game mode Would you rather WIN the UEFA Conference League or EARN more money? Which one is the worst? “It’s da history of da Tottenham…” Kepa in Arsenal be like Wanda Nara is now dating 26-year-old Achraf Hakimi — the PSG star reportedly invited Mauro Icardi’s ex-wife to a private party after the...
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup debuts in the United States with a fresh format, gathering 32 elite clubs for the pinnacle of inter-club competition. This edition spotlights Group E, where Asian "Red Devils" Urawa Red Diamonds, Serie A giants Inter Milan, Argentine powerhouse River Plate, and Mexican "Tigers" Monterrey will clash. What unique marks will they leave on the pitch?Asian "Red Devils" Uraw...
ASTON VILLA want to hijack Bournemouth’s move for Rennes skipper Adrien Truffert.Villa look keen on the left-back and could swoop for the 23-year-old if they can quickly sell a player.Aston Villa are trying to hijack France star Adrien TruffertBournemouth are on the brink of agreeing a deal to sign a potential replacement for Milos Kerkez (above)The Cherries are close to agreeing a £20m...
Chelsea are looking to land a second transfer after Liam Delap.Chelsea are set to launch a new bid for Mike Maignan.Chelsea reportedly face crucial days ahead in their pursuit of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, after already seeing one bid rejected. The France stopper is entering the last year of his contract at the San Siro and has been viewed as a market opportunity at a bargain price.The Blue...
Manchester United's chances of signing Bryan Mbeumo may have received a blow as Tottenham are reportedly readying an offer for the Brentford star.Man Utd eye Brentford's MbeumoTottenham ready their own offerTalks with manager Frank continueWHAT HAPPENED?The Sun report that Tottenham are trying to hijack United's pursuit of Mbeumo - with hopes that landing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as well could ...
Ajax have told Jordan Henderson he can leave for free this summer, with new head coach John Heitinga not counting on the experienced English international. Rumours have linked him with a sensational return to Sunderland, who will return to the Premier League in the 2025-26 season.Livramento to Man City currently on 'stand-by'Fabrizio Romano has reported that Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento's m...
Mikel Arteta is set to oversee a big summer at Arsenal (Image: Getty)Arsenal have waved goodbye to three players without making a permanent signing so far this summer, but the arrivals are not far off. Nuno Tavares has left the Emirates to join Lazio on a permanent deal, while Jorginho and Kieran Tierney have both entered free agency.Arteta picks between Sesko and GyokeresSince the start of the su...
Federico Chiesa is being tipped to leave Liverpool this summer (Image: Getty)Liverpool FC could be about to lose Federico Chiesa less than a year after the Italian joined the Anfield outfit. Chiesa was the only addition to Arne Slot’s squad during last summer’s transfer window, joining for £10million from Juventus.However, a combination of injuries and bad form meant his minutes w...
The summer transfer window is already in full flow, with Premier League clubs in a race against the clock to get deals over the line before the window is put on pause for the Club World Cup on June 10. Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are all hopeful of bringing in new signings beforehand, with early exits firmly on the cards as well.Ruben Amorim’s rebuild of United has been kickstar...
Harry Kane and England played out a drab first-half against Andorra (Image: Getty)England were booed off at half-time of their World Cup qualifier against Andorra, after a goalless opening 45 minutes against the European minnows. Thomas Tuchel's men had won their opening two matches of qualification against Albania and Latvia, but the German coach was left wanting more after his side's dismal show...
- 1 Albanian Laura Woods wows fans in Champions League final outfit
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Marcus Rashford 'grows close' to stunning semi-pro padel player
- 4 Why Premier League transfer may be off the cards for Victor Osimhen as Man Utd make 'timid' attempts to convince striker
- 5 Chukwueze reveals cause of AC Milan’s ‘disastrous’ season
- 6 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 7 FIFA confirms 34 team base camp training sites in the United States for 2025 Club World Cup, including nine in Florida and five in Calitornia
- 8 Man Utd continue to be linked with Emi Martinez
- 9 Daily Laugh - Mbeumo and his amazing talent
- 10 Liverpool's dream transfer window with six signings including £100m striker