A treasure trove of Goodison Park reminiscences from Everton’s opponents is sandwiched into an entertaining book reviewed by Eric Brown...
BY ERIC BROWN
Those who bothered to watch on television the full two hours or so of closure celebrations at Goodison Park will surely have been touched by certain moments.
Even if you are not an Everton fan, the sight of a frail Tony Kay struggling to stay upright on the arm of a helper during the ex-players’ parade will have moved many viewers.
Also near the top of the sentimental scale came a version of Everton’s signature tune, “Johnny Todd,” played hauntingly by a female violinist to a hushed crowd.
Memories like these last a lifetime, especially for Toffees supporters. To commemorate Everton’s departure from the home they have occupied since 1892, a timely book issue offers cherished recollections.
‘Goodison Memories’ does exactly what it says on the tin. Or the cover. Basically, it is a vault of nostalgia from players, managers, officials, sports broadcasters and journalists all recalling their own memories of a ground once hailed as the finest in England.
Not Everton players and staff, mind. No, that would have been too obvious. Author Steve Zocek set himself the far more arduous task of contacting Everton’s opponents for their own views of the Grand Old Lady.
He spoke to at least one representative of every club that has played in the top flight since 1960, plus many who faced Everton there in various cup competitions.
Anyone remember Keith Dignam or Tim Buzaglo? Thought not. Mr Zocek has diligently tracked them down among many better-known occupants of the Goodison away dressing room.
It’s gone now to its second reprint the demand has been so high. pic.twitter.com/EYQ0orfoQq
— Steve Zocek (@SZocek) January 2, 2025
The result is a cornucopia of memories of what it was like to visit Goodison as an Everton opponent. If there’s any criticism to be levelled here, it is that many interviews contain off-course comments about Everton players like Howard Kendall and Alan Ball rather than concentrating on the Goodison experience.
Nostalgic gems can be found on virtually every page. Here are just a few.
Ron “Chopper” Harris made his Chelsea debut at Goodison as a raw 17-year-old. He said: “I thought Goodison was a great stadium. The atmosphere was always fantastic. I always thought Everton a bigger club than Liverpool, at least in my time as a player. The way the crowd backed their team was worth a goal start.”
Chelsea teammate Alan Hudson recalled: “Goodison was a stadium where the crowd were on top of you. When they got behind the team, they were like an extra player. I remember going there once when Johnny Morrisey smashed me in the back, leaving me on the cinder track. As I got up shakily, one of the home fans shouted: “Just be grateful it wasn’t one of his sisters.”
Striker Ray Crawford played for Ipswich and Colchester at Goodison. He said: “Everton’s manager Harry Catterick once told centre half Roger Kenyon to follow me wherever I went. I got a couple of goals that day, and I later learned Catterick summoned Kenyon to his office for an explanation. Kenyon apparently said I got away on his blind side. Within 48 hours, Catterick had booked Kenyon in for a sight test!”
More Goodison gallows humour came from Bryan “Pop” Robson of Newcastle, Sunderland and West Ham. He said: “I remember a game where Tommy Wright allowed someone in on goal and Alan Ball shouted at him, ‘Are you not going to close him down?’ Tommy invited Bally to play right back if he thought he could do better. Bally shouted back: “I could do a better job than you.””
Keith Dignam appeared at Goodison among a team of students and amateurs representing University College Dublin in the 1984/85 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
He said: “We’d never played anywhere like Goodison, a great stadium with the crowd very close to you so you could hear what they were saying. The pitch, facilities and the Everton staff were great. Playing there was something I will never forget.”
Tim Buzaglo enjoyed his five minutes of fame when scoring a hat-trick for non-league Woking to topple West Bromwich Albion from the FA Cup in 1991. Woking were drawn at Goodison in the next round and Buzaglo said: “The whole day was fantastic and though we lost, I managed to get Kevin Ratcliffe’s shirt.
“To play in front of 35,000 people was amazing. The size of Goodison took my breath away with stands miles high. The surface was like a snooker table. The old grounds are the best because they seem to have a better atmosphere than modern ones. “
For the journalists, the late Paddy Barclay remembered the lift taking writers to the press room. He said: “My granny could have walked up the stairs quicker. It was so slow we used to look at each other and ask ‘Is it moving?’
“My favourite Goodison night has to be the Bayern Munich match. Probably the best atmosphere I’ve experienced at any match anywhere. I always found the approach to Goodison exciting with the narrow streets. Everyone was friendly there.”
Page after page is packed brimful of reminiscences like these, which will stir waves of emotion in Everton fans.
‘Goodison Memories’ by Steve Zocek is published by Pitch Publishing, price £18.99.
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