When I began supporting Everton over a decade ago, I never actually believed I'd see them play in person.
Then they came to the United States in the summer of 2021 to play in the Florida Cup and I was able to go, fairly certain it would be my one and only chance to see the club. The traveling roster included Lucas Digne, Andros Townsend, Allan, and, perhaps most notably, James Rodriguez, making those of us in Florida the only Evertonians to see him play live due to the COVID restrictions of the previous season.
That was it, though, I was sure of it.
But the following summer, Everton returned to the States, coming to Baltimore and Minneapolis to play Arsenal and Minnesota United (they lost to be both, which was a sign of things to come).
I saw Tim Howard and Leon Osman speak the night before the match, marched to the stadium with a throng of Everton fans, and saw Alex Iwobi and Jordan Pickford, among others, start for the the Toffees.
And that had to be enough, I told myself.
Until last fall, when I pitched the idea of making a trip over to Liverpool. There was a match on March 15 against West Ham United that lined up with my Spring Break. I'd work odd jobs and save up every dollar I could to fund the trip.
There were ups and downs to the planning. Waiting for the confirmation of the match date never really came, so I had to book my flight on faith that the Premier League wouldn't move the match at the last minute. And then I didn't get a ticket to the match when they went up for sale, although that eventually came together.
I spent a week in Liverpool. I saw the sights, did the Goodison tour, rode the Magical Mystery Tour bus, walked down to Bramley-Moore Dock, and otherwise enjoyed my time in the UK.
But Saturday, matchday, was the reason I was there, and it did not disappoint.
It's a completely different world than sporting events in the US. You could feel the excitement hanging in the air.
And then walking into the ground was something I'll never forget. Yes, everything is a little tight and you feel on top of everyone, but in many ways, Goodison didn't feel her age.
I took my seat in the Upper Gwladys and just sat there for a long time, not saying anything, not taking any photos -- I just wanted to take it in.
The atmosphere of the match itself was as expected. Everton got off to a slow start and weren't playing to the expectations of the fans, at least those around me, and the grumbling began. It worsened when West Ham took the lead midway through the second half and the entire ground was sure the unbeaten streak was coming to an end.
And then in stoppage time, a bit of magic, as Charly Alcaraz fired the ball across toward the far post, only for Idrissa Gana Gueye to get on the end of it and fizz a cross into the box, where Jake O'Brien headed it home in front of the Gwladys End, and we all lost our minds.
Alcaraz nearly won the match a few minutes later, but his shot sprayed just wide, but you could feel a collection of supporters trying to push the ball into the net by any means necessary.
I spent a few more hours in Liverpool that day. I popped into the Winslow for a post-match beverage with some locals I'd met through my supporter's group at home before catching a train to Manchester for my early-morning flight home the next day.
Thankfully, I'll someday be able to return to Goodison, since it will now be the home of Everton Women, but I'm glad I could see the Old Lady in all her glory. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm happy to say that I was there, if only once.