**Gethin Jones Hails ‘Best Experience’ as Everton Marks Historic Farewell to Goodison Park**
Television presenter Gethin Jones has described hosting Everton’s much-anticipated “End of an Era” ceremony as one of the standout moments of his career, as the Merseyside club bid an emotional farewell to its legendary home, Goodison Park. The event, held after the final home fixture of the 2024/25 Premier League season, gathered fans, players past and present, and Everton legends, all united in celebration of the ground’s 133-year legacy.
Jones, widely recognised for his roles on ‘Blue Peter’ and ‘Morning Live’, took to the stage before a crowd of 40,000 supporters on Sunday 18 May. Partnering with Everton supporter and former world boxing champion Tony Bellew, Jones helped lead the proceedings as the football club’s Senior Men’s team closed its historic chapter at Goodison with a victory over Southampton.
The presenter later reflected on the moment via social media, sharing a heartfelt message with his followers. “What a history, what a day,” he wrote on Instagram, accompanying a photo from the ceremony. “Goodison Park, forever @everton.” Jones went on to call the occasion “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had”, describing the privilege of hosting the event live on television and interacting with some of Everton’s greatest figures. “The script kind of went out the window, pure emotion everywhere,” he admitted, capturing the palpable sentiment coursing through the stadium.
While the conclusion of Everton’s time at Goodison marks the end of an epoch for the men’s team, the ground’s illustrious story is set to continue in a new direction. From the 2025/26 season, Everton’s women’s team, captained by Megan Finnigan, will take up residence at the renowned stadium. “To walk out at Goodison Park as our permanent home will be a real honour,” Finnigan commented, emphasising the significance of the move for both the sport and the community. “It’s where we belong — and we can’t wait to create new memories there.”
The transition has been met with enthusiasm from within the club. Women’s team manager Brian Sørensen described the opportunity to play at Goodison as transformational for the squad and its fanbase. “Our players will now have a stage that matches their potential, our fans will have a place to build an even stronger matchday culture, and young girls across Merseyside will see that this is a club where dreams can grow and come true,” he stated.
Gethin Jones, a proud Evertonian since childhood, recounted his own connection with the club and its home ground during an interview with the official Everton website. “I was six or seven when I demanded my first shirt after we won the FA Cup in 1984. As a proud Welshman, I’m sure a lot of it had to do with Kevin Ratcliffe captaining the side, and big Nev in goal!” Jones said, referencing beloved figures from Everton’s storied past.
The presenter also acknowledged the bittersweet nature of leaving behind a stadium steeped in tradition, noting Goodison Park’s status as the world’s oldest purpose-built football ground. “It’s tough to move on but I think every Everton fan wants the club to be winning trophies, competing at the very top, and these days you need to move with the times,” he reflected.
Tributes and accolades poured in from fans across the internet, with social media lighting up in praise of Jones’s role in marking the momentous occasion. One admirer commented, “What a proud moment for you today being asked to present the coverage of the celebrations. The coverage on TNT Sports and Discovery+ this afternoon has been tremendous.” Another echoed, “You did amazing. Couldn’t have signed off with a better host!”
As Everton turns the page with fresh optimism for the future – both at a new ground for the men and fulfilling new ambitions for the women’s side at Goodison Park – Sunday’s ceremony underscored not only the depth of the club’s legacy but also the power of football to bring generations together in celebration, reflection, and hope for what is to come.