Three goalkeepers who played between the sticks at Everton's iconic ground speak about their memories of the stadium.
Header Image: via BBC Sport
On Sunday, the grand old lady of English football is set to host the grand old team for one final time in the Premier League.
The grand old lady is, of course, Goodison Park, the home of that grand old team, Everton. It’s been the home base for the Toffees for more than 130 years. It’s seen World Cup matches, league championship success, European triumphs, and final day survivals throughout its time. However, when the game against Southampton concludes this coming Sunday, that will be it for Premier League football at Goodison Park as David Moyes’ side head to their new ground at Bramley-Moore Docks on the waterfront.
Ahead of this historic occasion, Goalkeeper.com caught up with three goalkeepers who have either called Goodison Park home or been part of the opposition against Everton.
One of the goalkeepers we spoke to is Asmir Begovic, a current Everton player. The former Stoke City, Chelsea, and AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper is in his second spell with the Toffees.
He started off by explaining how the mood was in the camp ahead of the final game at the stadium, a match in which the Bosnian could be involved.
Begovic told Goalkeeper.com: “The feeling is good, we are feeling positive, and we want to finish the time at Goodison positively and give back a good memory to the fans who have given us lengthy support.”
Meanwhile, our very own strategic advisor, Brad Friedel, has had numerous trips to Goodison Park throughout his career. He has sat in the away team dressing room for the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton’s biggest rivals, Liverpool.
He told us about how important the Everton faithful are to the club.
Friedel said: “It's an old stadium, but it has an incredible amount of character.
“It was a really difficult place to play for away supporters, especially being an ex-Liverpool player. The crowds backed their team, but there was a stage, especially during some financial difficulty with the club, where the fans could turn on the team, but it was not often.
“Goodison had one of the better atmospheres in the Premier League over time and one of the old traditional stadiums.”
Everyone has their favourite memories of being at Goodison Park, whether it be winning the league in 1987, the FA Cup success of 1995, or even the late draw against champions Liverpool earlier this season.
Begovic and Friedel are no different as they recalled some of the great moments of keeping goal at Goodison Park.
Friedel’s favourite memory of a trip to Goodison Park is a cheeky one, as a young supporter was determined to get a bit of memorabilia.
He explains: “Generally, I had a pretty decent record there, I mean you can imagine being with Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Blackburn we had good sides at the time, playing at Goodison.
“I think the funniest story was with Blackburn (I don’t know if you can print this!) where we’d finished the game and we went out for a cool down and as we were coming back in, you know the corporate boxes are very close to the tunnel where you go in, and there was a young kid, I don’t know, must have been 8, 9 years old, standing with his dad.
“He asked us in a Scouse accent “Brad can I have your boots?” and I said “No, I need my boots" and he said “Can I have your top?” and I said “No, I need my top” and he goes “Can I have your gloves?” and I said “They’re inside, I’m sorry” and he…well…had some strong words to wish me as I went down the tunnel!”
“He said it right in front of his dad, and his dad looked down at him, as the adult to an 8, 9-year-old boy, and said “Good lad!”
Meanwhile, Begovic recalls the game where an activist tied himself to the goal that he was defending at the Gwladys Street End.
He explained: “A standout moment would be when I played for the first team against Newcastle United, where we won 1-0 and the guy tied himself to the goal. It was a high-pressure game, and the atmosphere was unbelievable.”
He continued: “Special games and special occasions came often, none more so than the previous game at Goodison Park (vs. Ipswich Town) where we scored the last-minute equaliser.”
Of the 147 different visitors to Goodison Park throughout its history, it's no surprise that near neighbours Liverpool have visited the most. The Reds have made the trip through Stanley Park 120 times.
Liverpool was, in fact, the first Premier League club that Friedel played for, and he was able to share his memories of the Merseyside Derby and how the Everton faithful held him in good regard.
He explained: “The Merseyside derbies were different. You are standing right in front of the supporters, especially at the Gwladys Street end.
“I think I was with Villa actually, so I was obviously a lot older at the time, and when I came out of the tunnel and ran to the left, normally as an ex-Liverpool goalkeeper I wouldn’t applaud, because they start to applaud, you applaud and then they call you a you-know-what. And a lot of times they’d just boo the ex-Liverpool goalkeepers but maybe because I was already 37, 38 years of age - it could have been when I was at Tottenham so I may have been 40 - I got quite a decent ovation so by that time maybe they just respected me as a goalkeeper and forgot I played for Liverpool, but the Liverpool fans and Evertonians are very much like that.
“They applaud good football, they respect the players, and that was a little bit of a special occasion for me, to be honest with you, in my career, as you don’t often get that in away games when you’re playing against one of your rivals.”
As Everton's men’s first team prepares to move, both goalkeepers offered their views on whether they prefer to play in an old-fashioned stadium or a new one.
Begovic explained that it's something many aspire to do. One younger goalkeeper who got that opportunity was Pat Nash, who was signed to Everton's academy between 2021 and 2022.
“The history embedded in the ground, it’s got such a nostalgic feeling to it, tight corridors leading through to the changing rooms and the narrow tunnel and rattling staircase leading to the pitch, all the nuisances are what makes it so good," he recalls.
“When I played there I was immensely proud with my mum being a lifelong Everton fan having her watch me. Playing on the pitch its definitely not the biggest pitch I’ve played on, but me for the stands are so close to pitch, tall and steep that it almost gives the illusion of being boxed in more than other top stadiums, at least from the ones I’ve had the pleasure of playing in. ”
Begovic echoed this. "It’s tough to say, but it’s a cool and nostalgic feeling when playing at the older stadiums that hold the history.
“Goodison will be missed as it’s a stadium where many dream of playing at.”
Meanwhile, Friedel is torn because he loves the old traditional stadium but, prefers the facilities inside a new build.
He said: “I preferred playing in the old school stadiums, yes, but I preferred arriving to the new stadiums and the new stadiums’ changing rooms and all the amenities of course.
“Atmosphere? Old school.
“When the fans are very close to you, and as a goalkeeper, you can have banter with the fans.
“The larger stadiums, you very rarely can hear individual voices, yes, it is loud, but it’s usually just in unison with songs, and things of that nature. Old traditional stadiums were fantastic to play in.”
While Goodison Park will be saying goodbye to the club’s men’s first team this Sunday, Everton announced earlier in the week that the club’s women’s team will be using it as their base permanently from next season. It means that the famous old ground will not be shutting down forever.
