Tears flowed freely as referee Anthony Taylor signalled the end of an era. Everton’s 2 1 win over Sheffield United closed the final Goodison Park league campaign, and the stadium erupted in a mixture of jubilation and melancholy. Players formed a circle at centre pitch where manager Sean Dyche addressed supporters, his voice cracking as he thanked them for unwavering loyalty through seasons of turbulence. Club staff orchestrated a post game ceremony titled The Last Verse, blending nostalgia and hope. A 700 strong choir of Everton in the Community participants performed Abide With Me while former captains carried a time capsule across the pitch. Inside the capsule lay a piece of the old wooden directors’ box, a brick from the Gwladys Street wall, and handwritten letters from supporters describing their favourite Goodison memories. The capsule will be buried beneath the centre circle of the new stadium before its inaugural match. A drone show traced iconic images in LED lights above the Park End, displaying Dixie Dean’s 60 goal season tally, Alan Ball’s white boots, and David Unsworth’s 95th minute derby winner. Volunteers distributed commemorative programmes replicating the design of the 1892 first home fixture booklet, complete with sepia portraits. After midnight stewards opened the Bullens Road gates, allowing fans to walk the perimeter track. Many knelt to collect clumps of turf or touch goalposts. As floodlights dimmed and the lattice work faded into shadows, Goodison whispered a final goodnight. The roar now travels two miles west, but memories of the grand old lady will echo for generations.
