My first of two visits to Goodison Park. This was the second game of the 2004 winter break tour with my daughter. Day-return tickets from Shipley to get to Liverpool and then a Mersey train to Kirkdale. We had a quick lunch at a KFC in County Road and I had a pint in a pub while my daugter stayed outside. 

Everton vs Aston Villa, it was their 178th league meeting and they had scored 273 goals each in the previous 177 encounters. David Moyes was about to complete his first two years in charge at GP in March. Thomas Gravesen was running things in midfield for Everton and both Tobias Linderoth and Niclas Alexandersson were in the Everton squad. Only Linderoth played on this day. Everton's team was full of players not forgotten. Nigel Martyn in goal, Tony Hibbert, Alan Stubbs and David Unsworth in defence. Kevin Kilbane in midfield and on top Duncan Ferguson and an 18-year old Wayne Rooney. In the Aston Villa squad was Olof Mellberg and Marcus Allbäck. Allbäck didn't play, but to see two Swedes playing on the same league pitch in England is still rare. 

As my daughter was underage, I had tickets to the family section. Our seats were right behind the goal in the Lower Gwladys and at the back wall, which meant that every time the ball went up in the air we lost track of it. 

The game was won by Everton with two late goals. Tomasz Radzinski came of the substitute's bench in the second half and scored 10 minutes later. Thomas Gravesen made it 2-0. To top it off, Mr Messias was refereeing and God made sure we got back to Shipley safe and sound.