David Moyes believes it was destined for him to lead Everton in their last match at Goodison Park before a ‘fresh start.’

David Moyes has expressed that it was “meant to be” for him to manage Everton in their final match at Goodison Park.

The Toffees will take to the pitch to the familiar tune of Z-Cars at ‘The Grand Old Lady’ for one last time this Sunday, as they face relegated Southampton in their penultimate Premier League fixture of the season. The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

This emotional afternoon on Merseyside marks the farewell to the iconic ground that has been home to Everton since 1892. The club is set to move to their new 52,888-capacity Bramley-Moore Dock stadium on the banks of the River Mersey at the start of next season.

Reflecting on his time at Everton, Moyes, who managed the club from 2002 to 2013, shared his thoughts with TNT Sports. “We were talking about it years ago when I first came here,” he recalled. “We were looking at new sites and had so many moments where we thought we’re getting something else, but it never came through.”

He continued, “I know for all Evertonians, they’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. It’ll be sad to leave, but I think there’s a new beginning for Everton. It’s had so many good games here over the years. We’re just fortunate enough to be the last ones to shut the back door on the way out.”

Moyes made a sensational return to Everton this season, nearly 12 years after leaving to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. During his time away, he managed Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and had two stints at West Ham, where he led The Hammers to European glory in the 2023 UEFA Conference League final.

“When I was here, I wanted them to redevelop Goodison,” he added. “I was saying it’s so good, what the crowd’s like here. I was always hoping they’d do one stand at a time and move on, but the people with more common sense than me knew that it had to move somewhere else.”

He acknowledged the strangeness of being the one to see Goodison off, stating, “It wasn’t something I really expected. I was actually looking forward to coming to a couple of games at Goodison this season and then I was thinking about getting myself a season ticket at the new stadium.”

Anyone who has visited Goodison Park knows it is a special place, renowned for its fierce atmosphere and rich history. It remains one of the few top-flight grounds with wooden seats in some sections. Despite turbulent results and performances in recent years, the support from the Goodison faithful has remained unwavering.

“The biggest thing about here is it’s got an incredible community,” Moyes said. “I named it ‘The People’s Club’, not because I was clever enough to think that up – it was just the way I felt about it when I came in.”

He reflected on the long-standing connection between the club and its supporters, noting, “There are so many people before who’ve been coming for years and years, and it’s going to be a huge change.”

Megan Finnigan, captain of Everton Women, also shared her sentiments about Goodison, calling it a “magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.” She expressed excitement about leading her team out for their first home match at the new stadium next season.

As for the match against Southampton, it is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, with kick-off at 12:00 UK time. Live coverage will begin at 11:00 on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and discovery+.