From being a kid who stood on a crate at the Gwladys Street End, Alan Stubbs went on to fulfil his dream of captaining Everton.
But his final Goodison Park ambition has been achieved just in time before the Old Lady closes its gates for the last time against Southampton on Sunday.
I was there to witness it last Friday as 54-year-old Stubbs was coaxed out of retirement to play on the famous turf once again, but this time alongside his son Sam in a company game.
My old Merseyside derby rival did well to last 80 minutes and even better to catch his breath afterwards so he could chat to me pitch-side about the unmistakable arena he simply calls ‘home.’
Stubbsy has so many memories of being an Evertonian man and boy and although I’m a red, I’m also proud to have been a small part of Goodison history – scoring the winner for Liverpool in 2003 with a shot described by the match commentator as ‘spectacular!’
Alan remembers the first goal that afternoon even better, converted by Michael Owen. In the build-up, Stubbs had been quoted questioning Michael’s derby record – he’d not scored from open play against Everton.
Alan Stubbs is preparing to say an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park on Sunday lunchtime
Stubbs (pictured in 2007) is a boyhood Evertonian played 193 times for the club in his career
Everton’s final game at the iconic stadium comes against Southampton and it will be emotional
My team-mate was uncharacteristically riled by that and, needless to say, sped past the Everton defence and banged one in after half-an-hour.
Stubbs grimaces: ‘He ran by me after the goal and went: “What were you saying about my record!”
‘I thought you little so-and-so. I knew he’d read the piece and wanted to make a point. It still sticks out to me now.’
That was a bad Goodison memory for my interviewee but the boy from Kirkby has also had many good ones, initially as a fan.
‘My first game was 1980 at the age of eight. The Gwladys Street had a fence and they put crates on the wall for the young boys so you could lean over and see the pitch,’ he explains.
‘I was fortunate to be an Everton supporter in the 1980s. We won trophies, we had open-top bus parades. My favourite players were Peter Reid and Graeme Sharp.
‘The Bayern Munich Cup-Winners’ Cup semi-final at Goodison was epic. Everyone was lifted off their feet whenever a goal went in.
‘You’d be standing in one place, 10 seconds after the celebrations, you’d be somewhere completely different. That’s how it was back then.’
In conversation with Danny Murphy, Stubbs reflected on his fond memories of Goodison Park
As a youngster, Stubbs was able to enjoy Everton’s hugely successful period in the 1980s
Ironically, Stubbs made his first Goodison appearance as a player wearing a Bolton Wanderers shirt and scored in a 3-2 FA Cup win against his boyhood heroes.
‘It was a weird feeling because all my family were Blues,’ he recalled. ‘My parents and siblings were all in the stands wanting me to do well – but for Everton to win.’
In 2001, everyone was happy as he walked out the tunnel as an Everton player, signed from Celtic. His debut was chaotic with opponents Spurs having two men sent off in a 1-1 draw.
For the next seven years – apart from a brief spell at Sunderland – Stubbs was Everton’s main centre-half, helping them rise from relegation contenders into Europe.
They even finished fourth in 2005: ‘Nobody thought we were good enough and that spurred us on,’ he admits.
‘To celebrate, the gaffer summoned us to Albert Dock and handed out champagne. It was a good night.
‘Walking out at Goodison for the first time felt better than any result I’d ever experienced.
‘Another stand-out was being on the pitch when Wayne Rooney scored his iconic goal against Arsenal.
Stubbs was tasked with looking after Wayne Rooney off the pitch during his formative years
He was Everton’s main centre-half, helping them rise from relegation contenders into Europe
‘We knew Wayne was going to be special. There were murmurings around the training ground at Bellfield about this street kid with ridiculous talent.
‘David Moyes gave me the task of looking after Wayne off the pitch – which I hold my hands up and say I failed!
‘I gave him lifts to Goodison and when we went away for pre-season or a mid-season break, the gaffer told me he didn’t want Wayne doing anything daft.
‘I took drinks off Wayne to keep him sensible. It ended up with Wayne putting me to bed and him then going back out with the rest of the lads!’
Goodison was famous for its hostility. At Liverpool, our manager Gerard Houllier would lead his team talks on being disciplined. He felt Everton would lose their heads on derby day so we should keep ours.
It often worked. When I scored in our 2-1 win, Everton had David Weir and Gary Naysmith sent off.
Stubbsy feels fewer local players means there is less blood-and-thunder on the pitch but conversely even greater rivalry between fans.
It used to be called the Friendly Derby. On my first visit to Goodison in 1991, I stood on the Gwladys Street. There were pockets of Liverpool fans without any drama.
Stubbs still regrets winding up Michael Owen before a Merseyside Derby back in 2003
The 53-year-old is confident Everton’s new stadium will have an atmosphere and work well
‘It has drifted away from that,’ admits Stubbs. ‘Maybe it’s a society thing. Maybe, being totally honest, Liverpool’s success has been a factor while we’ve struggled.’
The gap between the clubs has never been greater and Everton hope a bigger stadium will increase revenues to bridge the gap.
Stubbs has visited the new ground. ‘I’m confident it will have an atmosphere,’ he predicts. ‘The distance between the seats and the touchline is the same as at Goodison.
‘What it has to do is build character. Goodison has bundles of it. It’s like moving to a new house. The building is impressive but we need to put pictures on the wall.
‘Nobody is expecting Everton to be top-eight next season. I don’t think they will be completely clear of PSR for another year.
‘The academy isn’t turning out prospects like they used to. Harrison Armstrong has earned rave reviews on loan at Derby which is good, but he’s just one.
‘What we can’t afford as a team is to sell Jarrad Branthwaite. He’s already good and I think he can become top notch.’
Not many people know that when I left Liverpool in 2004, the first conversation I had with another club was Everton. But Moyes told me it might be a battle and a struggle and I questioned whether that’s what I wanted at that stage of my career.
So, I never became part of Everton’s history – unlike the man next to me.
Stubbsy will be one of dozens of great Everton players at Goodison on Sunday including 1970s striker Bob Latchford, 80s icons Reid and Sharp, and Rooney.
Alan will also be working for radio during the game and getting the words out might be among one of the biggest challenges he’s faced as he looks around familiar surroundings for a final time.
‘It is going to be emotional. I am not afraid to say there will be a tear in my eye. Sometimes you can’t fight these things,’ he accepts.
‘It’ll be an end of an era celebration. It’ll be sad but I am also excited about the next chapter. Let’s see what the future brings.’
