Everton 1 Liverpool (the shite) 1 / September 18th 1948 / Att: 78,299 (Blues Record Attendance)

Everton: Sagar, Saunders, Hedley, Bentham, T.G Jones, Watson, Powell, Fielding, Dodds, Stevenson, Boyes

Scorer: J Dodds

My first match at Goodison was as an 8 year old on 18 September 1948. I was the youngest of 5 children so money at home was tight especially since the death of my father in 1945. My eldest brother was 18 years older and promised to take me to an Everton game "when I was old enough."

After being demobbed from the RAF, having been in the Forces from 1942 onwards, he kept his promise. I remember standing near the wall on the raised up section of Gwladys Street where we sheltered from the rain. As it was a Derby game the match was of even greater significance to me and it attracted Goodison's record crowd of 78,299.

Although I no longer go to Goodison as often as I did then, when I used to run fortnightly there and back (especially after a good win) to our family home in Walton, I am still an avid Blue and have brought up my 2 sons to support the best club in the land. Let's hope the glory days are definitely on their way back to Goodison this season.

On my 60th birthday in February 2000 my sons presented me, to my great surprise, with a framed copy of the Everton programme printed for my first match. Although it was a record gate apparently the programme is a rarity as many were used to cover spectators heads in the rain as was the practice in those far-off days.

Great website----keep up the good work. All the "Gordon West"

Bryan Kayley Prenton, Wirral (16/01/08)

Everton 7 Sunderland 1 / November 24th 2007 / Att: 38,594

Everton: Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Valente, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, Osman, Pienaar, Yakubu.

Goalscorers: Yakubu (2), Cahill (2), Osman, Pienaar, Johnson

I took my five year old daughter Ella to see her first match on Saturday. Everton 7 Sunderland 1. A fantastic day, a fantastic performance and a fantastic result against a side that actually didn’t look too bad going forward. Tiny Tim is here favourite players and he assaulted the corner flag right in front of us when he scored so she was made up.

The only problem is she now thinks we win 7-1 every week. I will need manage those expectations carefully especially when Mark Clattenberg is the ref!

Had some difficulty explaining the appearance of Mr Testicles at half time though!

Love the site, keep up the good work.

Steven (28/12/07)

Everton 3 Manchester United 1 / 19th August 1967 / Att: 61,452

Everton: West, Wright, Wilson, Kendall, Labone, Harvey, Young, Ball, Royle, Hurst Morrissey

Scorers: Ball (2), Young

Lovely to see the first game remembrance from California Mark - although not my first game (that was the season before) I remember the Man Utd match vividly.

My mam and dad (both mad, but poor, Evertonians) had promised to buy me a season ticket if I passed my 11 plus. I failed miserably. But on the way back from Lodge Lane baths, dad pulls out the season ticket from his top pocket and hands it to me with a wry smile. I recall that moment like it was 2 minutes ago. I'm not sure who was happier! The first game was against the champions, Man Utd. Even though my seat was assured I was at Bullens road waiting for the doors to open at 11.00am. Doors opened at 1.00. First in. I watched the ground fill up, in slow motion, in dreamland.

What a team and what an atmosphere and we overwhelmed United. Ball was astonishing, and the Golden Vision, was just that, a vision in gold floating across the pitch. United went on to win the European Cup in style that season so the result was a sign of things to come for us.

Next season is the 40th anniversary of my first season ticket. I will go to each game and have a little Jamesons to celebrate. Thanks Mum and Dad, I don't know where you got the money from for that ticket, and I bet you're still paying it off in Heaven, but you made me the happiest kid ever to have failed the 11 plus. And god bless that team - a thing of beauty that invokes dreams 40 years later.

Denis (11/12/07)

Everton 3 Newcastle 3 / August 21 1948

Everton: Sagar, Saunders, Dugdale, Lindley, Jones TG, Farrell, McIlhatton, Powell, Dodds, Fielding, Eglington

Scorers: Dodds (2) Powell

It must have been late 40s - early 50s ( I was born Blue in 1943). Everton 4-4 Newcastle I think.

Eric Cundliffe (29/11/07)

Everton 1 Southampton 0 (aet) / FA Cup Semi Final 14th April 1984 / Att: 46,587

Everton: Southall, Stevens, Bailey, Ratcliffe, Mountfield, Reid, Curran, Heath, Gray, Steven, Richardson

Scorer: Heath

I cannot recall when exactly I first started supporting Everton, but at the tender age of 9 my Dad (possibly in a futile attempt to make me switch my allegiance to his beloved Southampton) took me to my first Everton match (i was considered too young to go to the semi-final of 1984 - where incidentally my Dad has made arrangements for the replay on the train home from Highbury, having left 5 minutes before the end to avoid the violence! He didn't know Inchy had struck until at least 2 hours after the match).

It was in 1987 and i remember purchasing an autograph book at the Southampton clubshop in order to get some of my heroes' signatures. For those who can recall the match, any faint glimmer of hope my deluded Dad may have had of converting me (Once a blue always a blue Dad!!) completely vanished after Graeme Sharp smashed in all four goals in a four-nil drubbing.

I remember rushing to the car park after the game to try and get the players autographs - these were the days when the players mingled with the fans after the games! I seem to recall Graeme Sharp sat at the back of the team coach, still wearing his full kit in an attempt to avoid the masses of blues trying to congratulate him. He must have run straight from the pitch to the coach.

I got a few autographs that day, but I remember busting a gut to get to Howard Kendall and when I finally got to the front he looked at my Southampton autograph book - heard my southern accent and said 'Sorry lad, Everton fans only!!'. Oddly I respect the man even more for refusing to sign my book!! He is even immortalised on my email address!!!

Not sure if anyone will be remotely interested in my story, but i certainly enjoyed recalling the memories! I have also enjoyed the numerous drubbings we have given Saints over the years a lot more than my Dad and brother have!! Great site by the way, certainly makes my day at work go quicker!
PS. If anyone knows where I can get hold of highlights of that match I would love to see the goals again.

Paul Whitlock (20/11/07)

Everton 3 Aston Villa 0 / Thursday 1st Jan 1987 / Att: 40,203

Everton: Southall, Stevens, Pointon, Ratcliffe, Watson, Power, Steven, Heath, Wilkinson, Harper, Sheedy

Scorers: Harper, Steven, Sheedy

News Years Day, freezing cold, noisy and packed out - My first memories of Goodison Park.

Only six years of age at the time so can't recall much of the game, but was taken to it my old man & uncle. I spent a lot of the time moaning because of the weather, it was crap.

Second half - I sat on the steel terracing bars to get a better view, that I'm certain turned the game for us and we won.

Chris Herron, Kirkby (14/11/07)