Everton Hill Dickinson
Everton fans painted the city center blue as they gathered in anticipation of the club’s first match at the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. The atmosphere was electric, with fans filling pubs around Dale Street and making the new matchday walk along Regent Road. The occasion marked a significant shift for the club, moving from the historic Goodison Park to a state-of-the-art facility, with hopes of ushering in a new era of success.
Martin Fitton said: “We’re in the West Stand, towards the South Stand, more or less in the corner in the upper tier. 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 and hopefully kick on. The stadium is magnificent. I work in town, so I would drive down there and would park here. I saw it from its concepts through the construction, and it’s magnificent. It might be a little bit different on a Wednesday night in February, but it’s great. I’m excited for today; the crowd will be up for it; they always are for the first game.”
Tony McQuiggan said: “I’ve been going to Goodison since I was 10, so for 67 years. I was sad to leave it, but we needed this. I went to two test events, the first one with 10,000 people and the Roma game. It’s an amazing ground. It’s a bit high where we are, but once you get used to it, it’s fantastic. We’re in row 48 in the South Stand; it takes a bit to get up there, but it’s a brilliant view. At Goodison we had two pillars in front of us. I won’t miss those pillars. The ground was in full force for the Roma game; that was a full house. But this is a proper game. I think it’s a new era for Everton, with Moyes, the new owners, and a new ground.”
The match itself was a spectacle, with Everton taking a commanding lead early on. Iliman Ndiaye scored the first goal at the new ground, a moment that sent the stadium into raptures. James Garner followed up with a second goal, cementing a perfect start to life at Bramley-Moore Dock. Fans were thrilled with the team’s performance and the impact of new signings Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who were seen as pivotal in the victory.
Carol Yates said: “We were in the South Stand upper. It was absolutely unreal. You can’t even describe the atmosphere – I think it really lifted the team today. Z-Cars was why we didn’t go to the Roma game. I wanted to hear that as the players came out at the first game. Everyone was up on their feet, and it was unreal. Chanting and singing could be heard from Old Hall Street while the Blues cruised to victory.”
Stewart Nicholson Jnr said: “It felt like there was a bit of quality in the team as well. Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall were a cut above. You could tell. Grealish will be the first star at this ground – he’s got real quality; he’s an absolute winner. I’ve been a season ticket holder with my dad for 30-odd years. We were in the Top Balcony at Goodison, and now we’re in the Upper East stand. It was great.”
The day concluded with fans heading back to the city center, where they celebrated the victory and the promising start to a new chapter for Everton. The move to Bramley-Moore Dock represents not just a change of venue but a renewed ambition for the club, as they aim to establish themselves securely in the Premier League and build towards future successes.
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