'The old place will live on - but this was end of an era for Goodison Park'

The bluish fume could beryllium seen rising astir Goodison Park almost 4 hours earlier kick-off. This expansive aged arena was not built for serene farewells, truthful a time of history and precocious emotion was ne'er going to walk disconnected quietly.

A shot lucifer collapsed retired briefly, separating nan celebrations marking nan extremity of 133 years of men's elder shot here, Everton delivering a fitting farewell arsenic Southampton surrendered to nan temper and Iliman Ndiaye's 2 first-half goals.

The acquainted sights and sounds of Goodison Park still assaulted nan senses arsenic Evertonians made their measurement to this richly atmospheric spot 3 miles extracurricular nan metropolis centre to simply opportunity they were there, whether they had lucifer tickets aliases not.

Ten-minute locomotion from nan car park? Make that astir an hour.

Thousands thronged nan streets from 8am, Goodison Road adjacent to impassable, forcing Everton's squad to return a different way into nan stadium, nan coach arriving connected Bullens Road hidden down much bluish plumes of fume rising into nan Merseyside sunshine.

Everton's fans were drawn to nan celebrated landmarks.

'The Holy Trinity' statue, commemorating nan 1970 title-winning midfield of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall and other St Luke nan Evangelist religion connected nan area of Gwladys Street, was swamped, arsenic was that of erstwhile striker Dixie Dean, who still holds nan grounds of 60 convention goals successful 1927-28.

They will enactment successful spot while Everton move to nan spectacular 53,000-capacity stadium astatine Bramley-Moore Dock, now known arsenic nan Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The aged Everton strongholds specified arsenic The Blue House and The Winslow Hotel - pinch its Howard Kendall Bar - were packed, earlier those fortunate capable to person nan aureate farewell summons made their measurement into Goodison Park. Business was booming for illustration ne'er earlier astatine nan Blue Dragon food barroom and The Goodison Cafe, accepted gathering places complete nan years.

The aged spot will unrecorded connected arsenic location to Everton's women's team, but immoderate rituals were taking spot present for nan last clip arsenic nan hordes made their measurement done nan terraced houses that landlock Goodison successful Winslow Street, Eton Street, Neston Street and Andrew Street.

When they gathered inside, nan stadium packed good earlier kick-off, nan aerial ambush siren blared out, tears shed arsenic nan acquainted drumbeat introduced Everton's celebrated 'Z Cars' anthem.

Goodison Park was virtually rocking, pinch nan elephantine Main Stand, regarded arsenic authorities of nan creation erstwhile opened successful 1970, and nan criss-cross designs on nan Bullens Road Stand that are nan trademark of celebrated Scottish designer Archibald Leitch, packed successful a oversea of royal blue.

There was a play of almost eerie soundlessness successful nan 2nd half, pinch nan crippled won, arsenic Everton supporters geared up for nan last celebration. When nan committee went up for nan last 4 minutes, a wall of sound swept astir until referee Michael Oliver's whistle brought nan curtain down.

This was nan commencement of much celebrations, pinch video messages from shot figures, specified arsenic England caput coach Thomas Tuchel, recalling his memories of Goodison Park's unsocial atmosphere.

Old Evertonians, now elsewhere, besides paid their tributes, pinch peculiarly lukewarm ovations for erstwhile skipper and Arsenal head Mikel Arteta and Carlo Ancelotti, who managed nan nine for 18 months earlier returning to Real Madrid.

There were much tears arsenic a violinist played a poignant rendition of nan 'Z Cars' taxable arsenic much than 70 erstwhile players gathered earlier being paraded successful beforehand of nan fans.

They came from astir nan globe to stock nan emotions of nan occasion.

Tim Cahill and Gary Stevens – a two-time title victor who besides won nan FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup – flew successful from Australia, while Paul Rideout, matchwinner successful nan 1995 FA Cup last against Manchester United, came from nan United States. Bob Latchford, who won £10,000 from a newspaper for scoring 30 goals successful nan 1977-78 season, was location from Germany.

Graeme Sharp, backmost successful nan fold aft a play successful exile erstwhile his spell connected nan committee ended successful acrimony, attended too.

Wayne Rooney was greeted for illustration nan prodigal son, remembered arsenic nan 16-year-old who electrified Goodison Park pinch that celebrated extremity against Arsenal alternatively than nan section boy who near his beloved nine to activity occurrence and ending up arsenic Manchester United's all-time grounds goalscorer. He, of course, past came backmost to Everton.

They were moments that carried nan emotion of nan club's worldwide family, re-united erstwhile more.

Everton head David Moyes, who will lead nan nine into nan caller stadium successful his 2nd spell successful charge, captured nan mood.

"This was an bonzer atmosphere," he confessed. "The crowd were astonishing wrong Goodison Park, arsenic it was extracurricular earlier nan game. Just unbelievable. The occupation was to triumph nan crippled and spot ourselves retired astatine Goodison successful a bully light.

"I thought it was arsenic if everyone had travel together arsenic 1 club. Everyone opinionated together.

"The support astatine Everton is immense. It's needed immoderate shape of success. This is simply a time they've been waiting connected for truthful long, a caller stadium coming."

The 62-year aged Scot added: "I ne'er thought I'd beryllium nan 1 to return Everton into nan caller stadium.

"I'm honoured to beryllium fixed that opportunity. We each spot it arsenic different chance. We request to commencement rebuilding Everton again.

"We've done nan occupation [of staying up]. We person to effort to build connected that adjacent year. If we tin get an ambiance for illustration this successful nan caller stadium it'll springiness america each chance of winning games."

The man who christened Everton "The People's Club" connected nan nighttime he arrived from Preston North End successful March 2002, past revisited nan aged theme.

"Goodison Park will beryllium remembered for 1 thing. The people."

Moyes besides wants nan passion, colour and emotion of this time to supply a template for Everton's caller American owners, The Friedkin Group.

"I dream nan owners recognise what they're seeing here," he added. "This should beryllium bottled up, wrapped up and taken to nan Mersey. This nine needs to get backmost to wherever it erstwhile was.

"There's 100 awesome players present from awesome teams. We person to make that hap again."

Everton must now effort to recreate nan bosom and psyche of Goodison Park connected nan banks of nan River Mersey astatine Bramley Moore Dock.

It will beryllium a reliable task.

While nan aged Leitch architecture gave nan Goodison Park building thing unique, it besides possesses thing bricks and mortar simply cannot provide.

Former Everton striker Andy Gray, who won nan top-flight title, FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup, said: "We will time off Goodison Park. Goodison Park will ne'er time off us."

A lone trumpeter played a final, mournful type of 'Z Cars' to adjacent nan day, thousands of fans remaining successful their seats and incapable to tear themselves distant from nan places they person travel to telephone their home.

Tears of joy, despair and alleviation person each been shed present astatine Goodison Park. This clip it was a substance of emotions.

Just arsenic Everton labelled this day, it was "the extremity of an era".