GOODISON PARK

After the Premier League said goodbye to Everton's historic stadium, World Soccer columnist Henry Winter reflected on his many years reporting there.

- Henry Winter

Everton have performed so poorly at points down the years that we'd joke it was a relief that part of the pitch was obscured from a section of the press box. When I was at The Telegraph newspaper, our seat was down the front of the press box, allowing a clearer glimpse of Duncan Ferguson, Daniel Amokachi, Tim Cahill or James Beattie attacking opposing defences in front of the beseeching Gwladys Street End.

When I moved to The Times, we were on the back row and a large column got in the way. I could hardly complain. It was holding up the roof. Depending on closeness to deadline there would be whispers or shouts as to what had happened in the distant goalmouth. It was even worse for the radio commentators, who would lament the limitations of their vantage point.