As someone who prefers going for a pint in town, it’s about time they moved the match closer.

Anyway, Sunday morning’s juxtaposition of sweaty half-marathoners in the their day-glo Hokas, and waxen-faced, middle-aged ale tanks, was just one of many joyous contrasts on what was something of a remarkable day. 

As someone who has always said I will keep turning up at Goodison until one day there’s an A4 sheet stuck to the turnstile with an arrow drawn on it and ‘WE HAVE MOVED’, I’ve been almost ambivalent about the new ground, and not really a follower of all the drone stuff, etc. I have also been a bit concerned that supporters have been over-egging it and expectations would be too high – that these test events would end up with a feeling of slight deflation.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The whole experience was nothing short of incredible.

The walk along the Dock Road, dripping in the history of the city, and hearing a band rehearsing in Vulcan Studios. And the visceral feeling of that area regenerating before your eyes, with Everton at the very heart of all that creativity and energy. 

It genuinely felt like being part of a pivotal moment in history.

Now, two of the things I usually hate most in the world is anyone talking about their ‘journey’, and tattooed lads with guitars. However, this club has certainly been on a journey, and the overwhelming feeling in and around Bramley Moore was that it is about to enter a new phase, and that the travails of the past few decades might all have been worthwhile.

That, and ‘what the fuck are Nigella seeds?’

As for lads with guitars – that whole Jamie Webster thing is toe-curling – but then the couple of kids on stage at the 10 Streets Social were absolutely tremendous entertainment.

It was like a Nuremberg Rally. 

But a nice one.

Also, one of them said he’s in a band called Rats. Which is a magnificent name, quite frankly.

It feels like Everton have captured lightening in a bottle with this stadium. It’s just such an outstanding, overwhelming achievement and opportunity reflected by the enormous glow of positivity and pride, and the looks of outright joy on the faces of everyone there.

Everton, like the Wu Tang, is for the children.