A Southport man is excitedly looking forward to seeing the penultimate ever game at Goodison Park as Everton take on Ipswich Town this weekend – 53 years after he saw his first ever game at the stadium against the same opponents!
Robert Duce was eight years old and was taken to his first match by his Dad, when he saw the Blues draw 2-2 with the Tractor Boys in 1972.
This Saturday (3rd May 2025) he will take his daughter Sophie to her first (and last) fixture at the famous stadium, which has been the home of Evertonians since 1892 after they moved there from Anfield.
Robert now lives in Dubai but is looking forward to flying back with Sophie as the third generation of the Duce family to watch games at Goodison as they watch the action from the Upper Balcony.
He said: “I’m looking forward to taking Sophie for her first and last game at Goodison Park this weekend.
“My first ever match as an eight-year-old was Everton v Ipswich in 1972 at Goodison – a 2-2 draw – with my Dad – and so my final visit to see Everton is coincidentally v Ipswich – and it is Sophie’s first match at Goodison to see Everton! Three generations now…
“I remember Alan Whittle scoring for Everton.
“I remember the shock of blonde hair that Whittle had and so I thought I was Alan Whittle when I played football at Linaker Junior School.
“My Dad was an Everton 500 Club ticket holder and always bought me a main stand ticket and then seemed to be able to get me into the 500 Club by talking to the ticket guys on the door – at least for the first few years of me going.
“He supported Everton from the 1960s when he started at Liverpool University training to be a dentist. He came from Dudley in the West Midlands and was a West Brom (Baggies) fan in his early years.
“He took me from age seven until 1985, the year he died of Pancreatic cancer aged 44 – our final game together was watching Everton v Bayern Munich at Goodison Park in the famous Cup Winners Cup Semi Final. What a final game for him!
“He died the day after Heysel on Thursday May 30th 1985 – but did see Everton win the League in his lifetime.
“It took me a few years to want to go back again – but I had a Wirral girlfriend (now wife – Claire) and we started going to Goodison.
“At first we sat anywhere then after we could not get seats for the Everton v Wimbledon survival game in May 1994, we bought season tickets in the Park End before moving to the Upper Bullens (on the half way line, no less) – where we sat until we left for Dubai in 2007.
“We / I have been back for a few games since then – taking our two children, Hana and Sophie to their first Everton game – away on Boxing Day in 2018 at Burnley – when we won 5-1. I had to explain that this was unusual for Everton as they enjoyed the game so much. Everton always can surprise you!!
“The kids are both mad keen Evertonians, the youngest plays in goal and is doing her A-Levels – her hero is Jordan Pickford, I took her last summer to Goodison to see Everton v Roma – so she’s been to our hallowed turf.
“The eldest is at Leeds University and she’s never been to Goodison – so she’s coming with me – into the Top Balcony via a mate’s tickets – to see her first ever Everton home game and also our last game together at Goodison.
“The funny thing is it will be 53 years between my first and last games – and both have been against Ipswich. I am hoping though that it’s not a 2-2 draw this time!
“I’d really like to see us win at the ‘Old Lady’ for the last time.
“I am excited at the prospect of seeing Everton playing at the Bramley Moore Dock stadium but more than that, I’m sad that we are leaving our ‘home’.
“I’ll definitely be thinking of my Dad and our first and last games together… whilst hopefully celebrating an Everton win.”
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