A fond farewell: The Premier League bids goodbye to Goodison Park

When several moons ago Everton fans were canvassed in their thousands over a suitable design for their next stadium they made it abundantly clear what was important to them.

Certainly not the fixtures and the fittings - they would leave the trivial details to those with better eyes for minutiae.

But those many thousands of supporters of all classes and all ages left the pollsters in no doubt how they insisted the new place should feel.

It had to feel gritty, earthy, blue-collar, honest, and as you cast your eyes around Goodison Park, a tired but wonderful relic of a very different football age, you absolutely understand why the supporters' wish-list reads as it does.

Everton's new £500m, 53,000-capacity, state-of-the-art new home will bear no physical relation to Goodison, of course it won't. That's the point.

But spiritually? Can you remove 133 years of grime, grit and endeavour from the soul of a football club in one weekend and replant it in the plush new seats and lavish corporate boxes of a new cathedral ten minutes down the road?

Everton fans will rise to that challenge but first there is the opportunity this weekend to remember what was rather than what's next.

Not for the last time as it happens. The new owners have decided Everton's women's team can make Goodison their home, but Sunday's game against Southampton will still be an emotional affair for all in blue, doubtless a tearful afternoon for many and a chance to reminisce for all.

Everton's 1986-87 title-winning team parade the First Division trophy at the Grand Old LadyCredit: Hulton Archive

There will be sadness but also celebration as greats from the past, legendary figures such as Dixie Dean, Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, Bob Latchford and so many more storied old boys, are remembered at a ground where they and others enjoyed their finest hours.

Eight of Everton's nine Football League championship trophies were paraded around Goodison, as were five FA Cups and one European Cup Winners' Cup, won in 1985 when the team was one of the best around.

The visitors on Sunday are the worst team in the current top flight and Everton are around 1-2 to sign off with a win, but that will in no way affect the mood. Still, it would be quite the thing, wouldn't it, if the answer to a future pub quiz question on who scored the last ever Premier League goal at Goodison Park was Jack Stephens? He's 100-1 if you're interested.

Then again, maybe there won't be a goal - no team have had more 0-0 draws than Everton this season. But surely the footballing gods won't allow such heresy on this Sunday of all Sundays?

But if that's the send off as a Premier League ground that is destined for the Grand Old Lady, then no goalscorer is an 11-1 chance.

Read more:

Chelsea vs Manchester United predictions, betting tips and odds: including an 11-1 first goalscorer tip 

Aston Villa vs Tottenham predictions, betting tips and odds: Distracted Spurs look there for the taking 

Walsall vs Chesterfield predictions, betting tips and odds: Saddlers can seal a Wembley spot 

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.