Morning Live host Gethin Jones shared an emotional message on social media about one of his most memorable moments—hosting Everton’s “End of an Era” ceremony.
On Sunday, May 18, Gethin teamed up with former world champion boxer Tony Bellew to co-host a special event after Everton’s Senior Men’s team said goodbye to Goodison Park following 133 years. The team celebrated a Premier League win over Southampton, leaving the stadium on a high.
Posting on Instagram, Gethin wrote: “What a history, what a day. Goodison Park, forever @everton.” He added, “On a personal note, one of the best experiences I’ve ever had… To compere the ‘End of an Era’ ceremony in front of 40,000 people, live on TV. To chat with some of Everton’s legends.
“The script went out the window, pure emotion everywhere. End of an era for the men. Just the start for the women,” according to Wales Online.
While this marked the men’s team’s farewell, Everton Women, led by captain Megan Finnigan, will take over Goodison Park as their permanent home starting from the 2025/26 season. Megan said, “To walk out at Goodison Park as our permanent home will be a real honour. It’s where we belong—we can’t wait to create new memories there.”
Everton Women’s manager Brian Sørensen expressed his excitement: “Our players will now have a stage that matches their potential, our fans will have a place to build an even stronger matchday culture, and young girls across Merseyside will see this is a club where dreams can grow and come true.”
Gethin shared with evertonfc.com how proud he was to be part of the event, recalling his lifelong connection to Everton: “I was six or seven when I got my first shirt after we won the FA Cup in 1984, and of course winning the league and Cup Winners’ Cup the following season.
“As a proud Welshman, I think a lot of it was because Kevin Ratcliffe was captain and big Nev was in goal!”
He added, “It’s a proud, unique history—the oldest purpose-built football stadium in the world. It’s hard to move on, but every Everton fan wants the club to win trophies and compete at the top, and these days you have to move with the times.”
Fans quickly showed their support online, with one commenting, “What a proud moment for you today being asked to present the coverage of the celebrations. The TNT Sports and Discovery+ coverage this afternoon was tremendous.”
Another fan wrote, “You did amazing. Couldn’t have signed off with a better host!”