Bunady
As a small group of Everton fans cascaded onto the Goodison Park pitch to celebrate James Tarkowski’s stunning late equaliser against Liverpool, you could already hear the naysayers assembling....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
The fun police are always ready to race to the scene of a celebration crime in modern football and were out in force on Wednesday evening.
They, of course, do not get it. They never will. Everton fans have a saying that ends with the phrase, ‘those who understand need no explanation; those who do not, do not matter.’
The latter could not be more true. Those that do not understand why Goodison Park was sent into delirium for an equaliser in a 2-2 draw simply do not matter.
Moments like this are not really about football. That is just the side character for something deeper, of higher importance. There was more at play as James Tarkowski, an unlikely of last-minute heroes, scored his goal for the ages.
This was the famous old stadium’s Merseyside derby goodbye, and it mattered. Nobody could really tell you why, but it did. It was in the air before kick-off, a palpable sense of tension, hope and mysticism. Everton could not lose, and, in the end, they didn’t.
It was the fact nobody saw it coming. It felt like fate had turned its favour on Everton. They have been in this scenario before, but it has not ended like that. The tale is usually of plucky old Everton not being able to conjure up a miracle, especially when Liverpool are involved.
Goodison Park had other ideas. The old magic stirred up in the dying moments to remind us how football used to be. How it used to make us feel. It reminded us of something wonderful that seems to be ebbing away as the fun police and money men suck the joy out of every small moment.
This final Merseyside derby was a throwback. It was blood, thunder, constant action, and unadulterated rivalry. Goodison was rocking. A bear pit that shook Liverpool and Arne Slot, so cool, calm, and collected this season, to their core.
Modern football fans have been sold a lie that success is all that matters. Win things, make money, sign players, and look good on social media. Qualifying for the Champions League is all clubs who are not owned by states can dream of.
This derby, that goal, the wild scenes afterwards reminded us it is not. Trophies, medals, and titles are just a garnish. They will never give you what Goodison Park gave Everton fans on Wednesday evening.
All the focus is currently on Bramley Moore and a bright new future for the Toffees, but the Old Lady wanted to remind everyone that though she is old, she is mighty. Everton’s new state of the art stadium will have a tough time following her.
The fans across Stanley Park may have ridiculed, but supporters elsewhere will have been watching knowingly. If you cannot celebrate your captain smashing in a volley in the 97th minute against your table-topping, best in Europe rivals to ensure the last ever derby in your beloved home does not end in defeat, then when can you?
In the not-too-distant future, Goodison Park will be gone. The structure will be taken down, turned into something new. Only the centre-circle, Dixie Dean’s final resting place, and the memories will remain.
Bramley Moore will build its own history, with its own memorable moments, but they will not be the same. And few of them will bring the goosebumps to the surface quite like Tarkowski’s strike and the scenes that followed.
Everton fans proudly sing about knowing their history. That goal was the latest thread, the last for Merseyside derbies, in a rich tapestry of historical moments at Goodison Park.
As the old song goes, it made the heart go oooooo. Who cares what the red side have got to say? Certainly not Everton.
Goodison’s magic produced a fitting last memory for the Merseyside derby and Everton fans revelled in it. If you do not understand why, football may not be for you.
