Football will be losing part of its soul when Everton says goodbye to its Grand Old Lady Goodison Park

FAREWELL TO A STADIUM THAT HAS ROCKED

- BY ANDY DUNN

FOR a good while now, there has been a rumour on Merseyside that Paul McCartney will be part of a Goodison Park encore.

It is unlikely but it would be nice. One Merseyside institution saying farewell to another. For those of you who know your Beatles, perhaps he could play 'She's Leaving Home'.

Only Everton - well, the men's first team, at least - is leaving its Grand Old Lady. And it's not just the club that is losing a bit of its soul. Football is losing a bit of its soul, the city of Liverpool is losing a bit of its soul.

I have always thought that part of what makes Anfield special is Goodison Park and part of what makes Goodison Park special is Anfield.

Two giant pillars of one community within a roar of each other. Neighbours who fight, neighbours who unite.

The new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock is only a couple of miles away but even though the club is relocating its women's team to Goodison and the place will remain operational, the area of L4 will never be the same.