My Goodison No.20: It’s All About The People

Goodison is an incredibly special place to me, as it is to so many people. I’ve been very fortunate in my career to be involved with a lot of very, very good clubs, I’ve worked at a lot of great places – but Everton is my club.

I was fortunate enough to experience the place as a player, then, later, it was a special place for me as an Assistant Manager and Academy Director of the Club.

It’s the people that make it unique. I’m talking about the people who work behind the scenes at the Club, the people who are in and around the football side of it and, of course, the supporters as well.

I love coming back, I really do. I get stopped a number of times between parking up and getting to the stadium and everybody treats me so well.

It’s all about people, this club.

I love coming back because it’s a fabulous stadium. Goodison is a proper, old football stadium and it’s a nightmare for opposition to play in – but things have changed and times move on and I understand the need to move.

I’ve had so many great memories at Goodison but the one that always jumps out is making my debut there – against Aston Villa, who had recently won the European Cup. It came out of the blue. On the Friday I was training with the reserves, then I was called over to train with the first team and played on the Saturday. I remember the feelings I had clearly, even now. Howard Kendall, who was manager at the time, didn’t tell me until an hour before that I was playing, which was probably for the best because I had no time, then, to be nervous!

We won 2-0, I made one of the goals and got Man of the Match, for whatever that is worth! From there I played in the team right through to the end of the season. That was a really special time for me.

It was the real start of what has been a special connection, not only for me but also my whole family. There are a whole load of Evertonians up in Glasgow that I’m responsible for. Despite me being involved with various clubs, all of which I’ve enjoyed my time with, this has been a special club for them – my family – too.

By Alan Irvine, former Everton player, Assistant Manager and Academy Director

A series of first-hand accounts describing moments that made us fall in love with Goodison Park, My Goodison – supported by the Club’s Main Partner, Stake – is a new weekly offering here on evertonfc.com, bringing you the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present, for our final season at the Grand Old Lady.

Goodison is an incredibly special place to me, as it is to so many people. I’ve been very fortunate in my career to be involved with a lot of very, very good clubs, I’ve worked at a lot of great places – but Everton is my club.

I was fortunate enough to experience the place as a player, then, later, it was a special place for me as an Assistant Manager and Academy Director of the Club.

It’s the people that make it unique. I’m talking about the people who work behind the scenes at the Club, the people who are in and around the football side of it and, of course, the supporters as well.

I love coming back, I really do. I get stopped a number of times between parking up and getting to the stadium and everybody treats me so well.

It’s all about people, this club.

I love coming back because it’s a fabulous stadium. Goodison is a proper, old football stadium and it’s a nightmare for opposition to play in – but things have changed and times move on and I understand the need to move.

I’ve had so many great memories at Goodison but the one that always jumps out is making my debut there – against Aston Villa, who had recently won the European Cup. It came out of the blue. On the Friday I was training with the reserves, then I was called over to train with the first team and played on the Saturday. I remember the feelings I had clearly, even now. Howard Kendall, who was manager at the time, didn’t tell me until an hour before that I was playing, which was probably for the best because I had no time, then, to be nervous!

We won 2-0, I made one of the goals and got Man of the Match, for whatever that is worth! From there I played in the team right through to the end of the season. That was a really special time for me.

It was the real start of what has been a special connection, not only for me but also my whole family. There are a whole load of Evertonians up in Glasgow that I’m responsible for. Despite me being involved with various clubs, all of which I’ve enjoyed my time with, this has been a special club for them – my family – too.

By Alan Irvine, former Everton player, Assistant Manager and Academy Director

A series of first-hand accounts describing moments that made us fall in love with Goodison Park, My Goodison – supported by the Club’s Main Partner, Stake – is a new weekly offering here on evertonfc.com, bringing you the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present, for our final season at the Grand Old Lady.