Everton marked their historic move from Goodison Park with a perfect 2-0 victory over Brighton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. The Toffees' first competitive home match away from Goodison in 133 years delivered the ideal start to a new era, with goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner sealing the memorable debut.
The £802m stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock created an electric atmosphere as 52,769 fans witnessed history. Dan Meis, the stadium's architect, flew from Los Angeles to attend the opening ceremony, underlining the significance of the occasion.
Fans packed city centre pubs from early morning, with supporters spilling onto the streets around Dale Street before making the new matchday walk to the waterfront venue. The familiar sounds of "There She Goes" by The La's, followed by the traditional siren and Z-Cars, marked the start of a new chapter in Everton's 133-year history.
Perfect debut performance
Ndiaye opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, tapping home a Jack Grealish cross to send the stadium into raptures. The goal created remarkable symmetry - the Senegalese forward had also scored the final goal at Goodison Park in May's victory over Southampton.
James Garner doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute, rifling home from outside the box after another Grealish assist. Jordan Pickford preserved the lead by saving Danny Welbeck's second-half penalty, securing three points on the historic occasion.
Grealish's two assists marked a significant moment for the midfielder, whose last Premier League assist for Manchester City came in September 2024. The performance suggested David Moyes' new signings could transform Everton's fortunes.
Fans embrace new era
Martin Fitton, a season ticket holder since 1984, praised the move from his seat in the West Stand. "The stadium is magnificent," he said. "This is a change from Goodison, and things needed to change. The new ground should help us progress into a safer position in the Premier League."
Tony McQuiggan, who has attended matches for 67 years, welcomed the unobstructed views after decades behind pillars at Goodison. "I was sad to leave it, but we needed this," the 77-year-old said. "I think it's a new era for Everton, with Moyes, the new owners, and a new ground."
Carol Yates described the atmosphere as "absolutely unreal" after watching from the South Stand upper tier. "You can't even describe the atmosphere - I think it really lifted the team today," she said, highlighting how Z-Cars brought everyone to their feet.
Historic transition complete
The victory marked the end of Everton's 133-year association with Goodison Park and the beginning of life at their state-of-the-art new home. The waterfront location on the Royal Blue Mersey provided a stunning backdrop for the club's fresh start under new ownership and management.
City centre pubs filled with celebrating Blues after the match, toasting what many hope will be the start of a return to former glories. The combination of the new stadium, returning manager Moyes, and quality signings like Grealish has given supporters genuine optimism for the season ahead.
Sources used: "Liverpool Echo", "Independent", "Mirror", "The i", "Guardian", "Morning Star", "Metro", "Daily Mail" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
