Our first visit to Goodison Park was on 1 January, 1902 - over 123 years on, we'll step out at Everton's famous old stadium for the last time in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm UK).
Memories of the storied stadium on Merseyside go back almost 50 years for legendary former striker and first team coach Clive Allen who, as he explains, was just 14 when he first walked out of Everton's narrow tunnel and then, almost 10 years later, scored twice on his Spurs debut in a 4-1 win at the start of the 1984/85 campaign.
Clive reflected on those days on the blue side of Stanley Park with us on Friday. "It goes back to being a 14-year-old, playing there for London Schools against Liverpool Schools," he said. "That was the first time I played at Goodison Park, in front of about 10,000 as a 14-year-old schoolboy. We beat Liverpool Schools that night. Mark Falco also played and that was the start of my relationship with Goodison Park, shall we say. It was amazing, I loved it.
"Probably other than Villa Park, it was my favourite away ground. Goodison reminded me a lot of QPR and Loftus Road, where I started my career, because it was so tight and tense, with the stands really close to the pitch. When you walk out there, it's like everybody's on top of you. There was always an amazing atmosphere and when I went there, we always played against very good Everton teams as well. They were a top team in the mid-1980s (Everton won the old First Division title in 1984/85 and 1986/87 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1985) but we always did well there.
"I'll never forget my first game there, scoring two goals on my debut on the opening day of the 1984/85 season, a brilliant result for us. I don't think they lost too many games in that season (Everton won the title by 13 points) but we had a good day. We won 4-1, Mark Falco scored and John Chiedozie, on his debut as well. He signed the same day as me. It was always tough there, and from what I remember, always goals. I can't remember too many dull games, they were always exciting, always good to play in.
"It's a proper, traditional stadium, residential property facing the main entrance, the chippy on the corner, the pub, right in the heart of the community. And then there's the close proximity to Anfield, just across Stanley Park at one end of the ground, you can just walk over the park and you're at Anfield.
"Going back to the mid-80s, they were an absolute powerhouse, good players, big characters. That debut is a great memory, I have to say, and Goodison hasn't really changed in all that time, obviously all-seater now, a lick of paint, the playing surface has always been good, you always remember the facilities, small dressing rooms, the narrowest of tunnels taking you out onto the pitch - the things you remember, amazing!"
A display to remember | 23 December, 2018
Spurs at Goodison Park | A few stats
- Goodison has been Everton's home since 1892 - our first visit was for a friendly match on 1 January, 1902 - Everton won 3-1, Tom Smith on target for us in front of a crowd of 10,000
- Our first competitive match at Goodison was an FA Cup third round tie on 11 January, 1908, a 1-0 loss in front of 21,000
- Our first league visit to Everton was in the 1909/10 season, our first in the old First Division, having been promoted to the top flight after our debut season in the Football League, Second Division. We lost 4-2 on 4 September, 1909, in front of 20,000, with Bert Middlemiss and Billy Minter on the scoresheet
- Our first win at Goodison was on New Year's Day, 1913, Billy Minter scoring both goals in a 2-1 win in the old First Division in front of 30,000
- Our first visit to Goodison of the Premier League era was a 2-1 win on 10 February, 1993 with skipper Gary Mabbutt and Paul Allen on target in front of 16,164
- Harry Kane scored his 100th goal for the Club in a 3-0 win on 9 September, 2017 in front of 38,835
- Everton vs Spurs at Goodison Park is the most drawn specific fixture in Premier League history, with 17 of the 32 meetings ending level
- We go into our final league fixture at Goodison unbeaten in our last 11 visits to the venue
Last time at Goodison | 3 February, 2024