Goodison, Goals & Good Mates

Connor Bennett is next up for The Story of The Blues, he reflects back on a lifetime of the Toffees. From the Family Enclosure to the Gwladys Street - the goals, the heartache and the mates.

By Connor Bennett.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been absolutely Everton-mad. I had a kit with ‘Connor 9’ on as soon as I was born, but I never realised that dream of playing up front for them. That is a shame for us all really. 

I’ve been going to Goodison regularly for almost 20 years at this point. My first vivid memory of a game was being sat in the Upper Bullens with my grandad - who is a red - and seeing Steve Watson score. Hughie drafted himself in because I was absolutely desperate to be at Goodison. He didn’t love it, but he loved me having a ball, so I’ll always thank him for that. 

When I wouldn’t go the game, he and my Nan would buy me a programme every Saturday when they’d go into town or visit the cemetery. I remember driving past Goodison when Duncan scored his final goal, hearing that roar and wanting to be inside that ground - not in the backseat of their Vauxhall. 

Fast forward a few years and after grabbing the odd spare and tickets for cup games, I landed on a season ticket in the family enclosure. To me, I’d made it: I was following Everton every week. I went with my mate Paul, often meeting his dad, who sat a few rows away, and had our own Match of the Day as soon as full-time was blown.  

My best mate Dom joined us after a year or so and, eventually, we were kicked out when we were 16. We headed for the Gwladys, as you do. 

GT4, Row L, seats 108-107. That’s been us for the last 15 years. 

Screenshot from Sky Sports coverage on YouTube

You can see us in the background of plenty of memorable goals of that period - Fellaini against United, Jelavic against Spurs, Lukaku vs Chelsea - oh so many Rom goals - , Calvert-Lewin in the Palace game, and Dom again in the derby. It’s been special. 

I’ve been lucky enough to take my younger brother for 12 years, too. My sister joined us for a season when Dom moved to Korea to teach. She’s still a bit of a good luck charm when she gets a spare. I’ll cherish the photo of the three of us on the pitch after the Palace game forever. 

For all the goals, that noise of chairs going up as Everton attack, the leg bruises that linger for days after, it’s the community around the place that matters most. 

That community led me to meet my other best friend, the uber-talented photographer who has decided that her website needs my ramblings. You know the story: acquaintances online forever chatting about Tolis Vellios, actual friends in real life bemoaning Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche, and then deciding to go a step further. Wouldn’t change a thing, cheers Everton. 

My match day routine has altered over time. It started with the bus, then train and walking from Kirkdale, before driving most weeks. There’s been too many pub trips in there to count too. 

Now, I love to wander around with Laura pre-match, watching her at her best, capturing Goodison, the people, and the minutiae of every match day. Bias aside, no one does it like she does, and I’m incredibly proud of her. Watching her blush as fellow Toffees compliment her brilliant work won’t get old anytime soon. 

I’ll miss Goodison Park. I’m able to track plenty of moments in life purely based on who we played, who scored, and what I did for that game. Naturally, 95% of those probably revolve around the old place. I’ll miss sitting so close to the pitch that I know an opposition player has heard me. I’ll miss saying hello to the same old faces sat around us. 

We’ll make new memories at the new place - sitting next to Laura as she snaps away -, fresh faces to groan (or laugh) at my displeasure of Everton’s performances, and the same old ups and downs we’ve faced forever.