Jordan Pickford was proud to have played his part in history as Everton signed off at Goodison Park with a 2-0 win over Southampton.
Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half double secured a memorable victory for the Toffees on Sunday, in what was their final match at the stadium that has been their home since 1892.
While Goodison will have a new lease of life as the home of Everton Women from next season, the men’s team will move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Beto saw a pair of goals disallowed for offside, while Everton also went close in the second half, though they did have to rely on goalkeeper Pickford to make a superb save to prevent Cameron Archer from setting up a nervy finish.
This was the 633rd Premier League match at Goodison, which was hosting its 2,789th match in all competitions, and Pickford was delighted to have ended this era on a high note.
Pickford told TNT Sports: “I think we needed to win, Ili scored two great goals.
“We went 2-0 up and maybe thought it was too easy – we made it hard for ourselves. We’d have liked to score four or five.
“We’ve not won [a trophy] but we’ll go down in history as the last team to win at Goodison. It’s a great feeling.”
It was a sentiment echoed by manager David Moyes, who has guided Everton well away from danger and into 13th place since he replaced Sean Dyche in January.
He told TNT Sports: “I had to look beyond all the things going on today – Goodison being in the past after today, it was really important for us all. We did a good job in the first half, not so much in the second half, but we got the victory.
“It was [a different team talk] because this team will be remembered in history. I told them how important it was that we finished it off well.
“I was more impressed by the atmosphere; it was great. We did our job, we got ourselves another three points – we’ve got ourselves in a strong position.
“I’ve been here a while, I know what it means, it’s been a great stadium.”
132 – Goodison Park has seen more players score their first ever Premier League goal than any other stadium in the competition’s history. Kickstart. #EVESOU pic.twitter.com/5szUHClCQz
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 18, 2025
Everton have won their final Premier League home game in eight of the last 10 seasons (D1 L1), ending each of their last five league campaigns at Goodison Park with a victory.
Since Moyes’ first game back in charge of Everton on January 15, only Newcastle United (21) and Liverpool (18) have scored more first-half Premier League goals than the Toffees (17).
Their 17 goals before half-time are one more than they had scored in the opening 45 minutes of their previous 40 games under Dyche.
There was a bittersweet moment for Everton captain Seamus Coleman, who led the team out but then had to be taken off due to injury, with Pickford taking the armband.
“Really proud, a great moment,” Pickford said of captaining the Toffees in Goodison’s farewell match.
“[But] it was all about Seamus, him coming out with his three kids. I’m gutted for Seamus, how much effort he puts in – he drives Everton forward as a club.”
