Live in New York City with David Moyes and Everton Football Club 07/25/25

19:40Beto going on his solo lap of glory. Fans staying behind to sing forever. This was proper Everton. This was a proper Everton moment. A team that refuses to die, refuses to be beaten. I mean, that's the classic Everton that we all grew up with. at the same time to be candid that goal earned Everton a solitary point I mean we won 1-1 we won 2-2 you know what I mean but it did mean so much more talk can you talk about the way it kind of galvanised everybody

20:15James Tarkowski:I think as I mentioned earlier the club sorry the club felt a bit broken at times and that maybe that one moment just felt like a real moment of where everyone united together and maybe like a turning point in what had been a tough few years to a more positive moment. So hopefully that's part of this positive trajectory we're going on now, moving into the new stadium and, yeah, on the way is up from here, hopefully. I mean, it's a beautiful thing to say. David Moyes said something incredible in the wake of that game. He was asked if he was worried that the game would bring Everton back down to earth.

20:49And he said this, he said, over recent years, everyone's brought Everton down to earth. He said, so why don't we keep Everton? This was his quote, Everton high for a change. Which is, he's so good at that, David Moyes. It's an incredible statement. James, we're sitting here, in Moyes' words, on an Everton high. As you say, new owners, new stadium, building filled with hope. What does it feel like to think about this future? What is your message to Everton fans about all that is to come?

21:25James Tarkowski:I think we should all be excited together. End of last season was obviously sad for a lot of people leaving Goodison. But for me, it's a real moment of let's take this club in a new direction. Let's go back to where we have been in previous times and start looking at the positives and bringing people together, winning football matches and be successful.

21:52James is going to stay with us, but I do want to say, I want to thank you for everything you've done for Everton Football Club. All you do, you are like the sword and the shield. You're a hero in the mould of so many great Everton Central defenders, Mick Lyons, Kevin Ratcliffe, Dave Watson, Phil Jagielka, human beings who, all of them, make playing around them more tenacious. New York City, give it up for Mr. James Tarkoski.

22:27We're going to bring on a gent. We just had to listen to the guy who struck the last Goodison nighttime goal. We're going to bring on the poet who scored the last goal of all at Goodison Park, a Senegalese maverick creator. Honestly, a surrealist footballer. A gentleman whose story is incredibly inspirational. and he's risen from a National League Academy team. He's now a Premier League phenom. Last year, he led our boys with 11 goals, all comps. But what goals? Each one, a miniature avant-garde manifestation of the joy and freedom he brings to the field every minute. I have not seen a player who is so thrillingly skill-soaked play for our boys in a long, long time.

23:10So New York City, please give a great welcome to Mr. Illumina Dye! I am! I can't deny, I know but Jenna's name is Elemen and Jai. From Senegal to Bramley Mall, he's fucking magic, he's the one that we adore. Olé olé, olé olé olé olé olé olé olé olé olá. Olé olé olé olé olé olé olé olé olé olá. I am in love I can't ignore I'm in the day Oh, Ily, welcome to New York City, mate. Thank you very much. Can I just say, I love watching you play football. When you get on the ball, everybody here leans forward in their seat because it is a sign that something magic's about to happen. The last ever game at Goodison Park, we were desperate for a party that day.

24:14Southampton are playing us. It's nil-nil. until the 28th minute and you did this. LAUGHTER LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

24:29LAUGHTER APPLAUSE LAUGHTER LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

24:39Ellie, what goes through your mind when you pick that ball up on the edge of the box? So you're just like, how can I create joy?

24:51It just came a bit natural, really. I think everyone knows my type of play. So as soon as the ball just landed in front of me, I just, I already know, I knew where the goal was. I just went directly and just shot with my left foot and he went in. Simple. This is like speaking to Einstein and asking him how he does equations. He's like, just do them. I just do them. It's that simple. But Todd, you see this man every day in training. You have to defend against this man every day. How do you, what's your experience of handling those skills?

25:29James Tarkowski:Not enjoyable. Every time I watch him turn his hips and move and twist, he makes me question how I've become a footballer.

25:41James Tarkowski:He's a special, special player. And we really appreciate how good he's been for us so far. And I think he's only going to get better last season. He was amazing for us and hopefully another big one this year. Thank you. I want to go back to the beginning of your story. You're born in northern France and your family say that when you were one year old, you just started kicking everything in sight. your granddad saved everybody's shins he gave you your first football and then your dad is a choreographer he was a dancer and he taught you how to dance can you talk about how your father's dance moves have influenced your game yeah that's that's where i get my twist and turning from yeah no just because he basically taught me everything i know you know and um yeah he would just show me like the dance move that he would do and he would just tell me to do with the ball so that's how I got the moves so that's it when you're on the ball it is genuinely it's like it's like dance billy dance your journey to Everton the laughing but it has been so bloody hard you move from France to Senegal then on to England you arrive 14 years of age we were talking before you said you knew one word of English what was the one word

27:02almost in the mythology just put that in on Wikipedia he spoke one word and that one word was Everton and it was magnificent what was the one word? it was just rainbow when I found that out I was like of course one English word was rainbow a thing of unbelievable natural beauty but although football was a constant in your life You trialled with half a dozen teams, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Spurs. All of them said no. One of the clubs even told your dad you, quote, would never be a football player. But you kept grinding away. Age 16, you joined the academy at Boreham Wood. Look at that. You've not changed a day.

27:49National League, fifth tier of English football. And Illumina Dye simply proceeded to grab the world's attention. by doing this. Not a lot of sound on this, but watch this. Nine players.

28:1616 years of age, you beat nine opponents and casually rolled at home. Illum, what did that feel like, that goal? Was it like vindication? What does that mean? Did it just feel fucking amazing?

28:35No, yeah, it did.

28:41Obviously, I've trained my whole life since I was young to be able to score a goal like this. Goals like this. So now when I do that, that's kind of my signature goals. So yeah, it feels amazing doing that. It is one of your signature goals because everything then happened at speed. You moved to Sheffield United, Marseille, and then last July 3rd... A date. Look at that. By the way, July 3rd, I celebrate in my house like it's one of my children's birthdays. You signed for Everton Football Club and almost immediately against Leicester, you did this. I'm young. Good ball to pick out Ajay. It's the close of the team.

29:31It's your first Premier League goal. When you slid into that corner flag in celebration, what does that feel like? It was amazing. I didn't have the... I don't know, I don't have the words for it. I've been weighing my whole life for this moment. And obviously it was amazing to do it with Everton. So, yeah, it just felt amazing. Tor, what's it like for you to watch when you see him pick up the ball deep and it feels like there's no danger at all because he's trapped on the wing. But the way he sees space and burst into it, it's electric and just suddenly danger.

30:04James Tarkowski:Makes me feel grateful that he's on my team and not the other team. No, the amount of times that we roll the ball into his feet and he manages to wriggle away from one, two, three defenders and before you know it, we're on the edge of their box attacking. He's done it all last season for us and created many chances and scored plenty of goals for someone who played out on the left, scored quite a few goals for us. So very important goals as well with that. Let's look at another one. Because I love the moment the ball comes to your feet, all of us know what's happening. Let's look at this moment against Spurs.

30:35You take the ball on the... I like this interview. I'm just describing my goals.

30:43You take the ball on the halfway line and suddenly the entire defence is backing up like Walter Goggins' hairline.

31:07When you get that ball in, you're in your own half. You've got the entire field in front of you. Honestly, what goes through your mind?

31:18Again, I've seen the goal from there. As soon as Idrisah passed me the ball, I just swung directions to the goal. And then the dance move came in. He stepped over and said, yeah, go, my love for. Do you actually think about what you're doing, or is it all just muscle memory taking over? No, I do think about it. But I kind of think it so quick, because you don't really have time to think. Obviously, on that goal, I had the time to think about it and the space to do it. and he was just backing up, backing up, so I was like, all right, just kept going. Yeah, but, yeah, like, I don't really have time to think, but I think quickly.

31:59When you look back at your own highlights, do you know it's you doing that, or you're, like, looking at it going, oh, my God, that guy is amazing. My wife has enough of me, because every time I go home, I just look at the goals I scored, like, a million times. She just says, get off your phone, get off your TV, but, no, yeah, I love, I enjoy watching myself score these goals.

32:24Todd, can I say, as the scorer of great Everton goals yourself, which is how we think about you, how would you describe the play of Illum and Die in your own words?

32:36James Tarkowski:Yeah, that's the simple answer. Agile, creative, quick, strong. And now a goal scorer, as you can see there. I've been here three years. I had one highlight. Like, he's been here one year and he's had about 10 highlights.

32:55I wish we could play them all, but I've got time for one more highlight.

32:59James Tarkowski:Is it one of mine? One more. One of my highlights or one of his again. Shall we show the 98th minute in the Anfield Army?

33:12We should show that again. We'll show that again in a minute. It'd be very, very nice. we'll do the Kendrick Lamar cut that was pretty tasty one more really highlight because I love it let's take a look at you from the penalty spot against Brighton and Ove Albion

33:33NDR sliding into the corner and Everton lead in the Apex

33:48I gotta say that was like I watched that I was like oh my god that is black belt shit hausery you're like a Senegalese Jamie Vardy where did that come from I have no idea usually I'm not like that I just go into my celebration but you're not you're not that guy no I'm not that guy no but shout out to Jared as well Jared because we were supposed to do it together but I just ran off and did it myself

34:21he left you on your own yeah I just went on my own just did it quickly didn't think I would get booked for it I thought it was just a bit of fun did you know have you seen that side of L.E. before is it like is it like an L.E. off the field and an L.E. on the field like a switch flick

34:38James Tarkowski:I've not seen it very often I actually didn't know he even got booked in that game I didn't even see it I don't watch penalties so I faced the other way so once it went in I just walked back to the into my own half and I just realised later on that he got booked as great as those clips were there's one moment of yours that I love even more it's one that your wife shared of you sitting in your car after the 2-0 win against Ipswich there you are singing the song that the Everton fans love to regale you with. Let's take a look.

35:15Let's take a look.

35:35Can I say, when I saw that, I loved it for what it was, but also knowing your story, Ellie, the journey you've been through, the rejection, and now the adoration of all of these fans.

35:55Can you point towards how it feels to be at Everton, to hear your name sung out by thousands? I guess to be loved and also to love. Yeah, no, it's amazing. Obviously, I've always said, like, on the pitch, if you have a good connection with, I mean, if you have a good connection with the fans, then it makes it easier for you to perform on the pitch, you know, for them, obviously, it's for you, for your family, but it's also for them. Obviously, they make the football club. No, but, yeah, I've enjoyed playing on the fans every time. You mentioned your family. I will say, you will forever be part of this club's history now after scoring not just the last one, but the last two men's goals ever at Goodison Park.

36:39But you walked out with your three daughters that day. And it was a beautiful Instagram post. You wrote, I'm not just chasing victory. I'm chasing a legacy my daughters can be proud of. Eli, when you say that, what legacy do you want to leave? Don't know how to explain it.

37:05Yeah, no, of course. Obviously, coming to Everton, I just didn't want to just, you know, come here, play and then go, you know. Obviously, you want to... You know, when people talk about you, like you've left something at the club, you know, for them, and just try and take the club as far as I can. I can't wait to watch how far you can take this club. I do want to raise my glass to you. I mean, you do, you create poetry. It is watching you. there's another there's an artist who painted a bit like you play football Edgar Degas who said art is not what you see it's what you make others see and Illiman I've got to say you make us all see such beauty to feel such beauty long may it continue New York City can we hear it for Mr Illiman and die

38:09next guest it's been a gentleman it's been the heart and soul of this football club for 17 long years I don't know if you heard this about him he was signed for 60 grand from Sligo Rovers. 16 seasons, 428 matches later. 60 fans, 60 fans, James Colburn All the fans were given away Is that good? Yeah, really good 60 fans, James Colburn 60 fans, 60 fans, I said 60 fans, 60 fans, James Colburn Played from all the air and air and air 60 fans, 60 fans, I said yet it might be micko you never know

39:11i love this jen he's defined himself as one of the rare footballers who for reals loves the club as much as the fans love the club and i'm so unbelievably happy that he will be with us for a 17th season new york city please help me welcome the pride of killie bags it's mr sheamus bitte

40:28Seamus Coleman, welcome to the to New York-ready city. It's incredible to say those words. I mean, it's a special city, both to the nation of your birth, Ireland, and to your adopted home city of Liverpool. How much do you love coming to America? What's the best thing you've seen, eaten, or done since you arrived? No, it's been great. I love it here, to be honest. I've been here a few times with my family, with my kids and all the rest. I absolutely love it. It's been great in our free time, like myself and Tarky just getting out and getting for a coffee and just feeling the atmosphere, it's been great and obviously Everton have always had that connection with Tim Howard and Landon and stuff like that so a lot of Evertonians on the streets too A lot of Evertonians on the streets especially today Thank you very much Thank you Ellie, just tell them what you did today because it's kind of mind-blowing what you did in Central Park you in Ghana it's called rickshaw no I just went on you know the bikes with the female what's it called on the rickshaw yeah yeah just around Central Park can you imagine that I've been a rickshaw driver pulling Iliad it's like in Ghana it's like Moimblo you are you are pulling two national treasures along on the streets of New York City I was like my god the club's insurance has got to be outstanding but Shingmas as you've heard tonight everyone's singing your song your arrival at Everton is the stuff of legend in our lifetime it really really is you arrived 17 years ago look at that oh Jesus Christ

42:19Taki what are you laughing at? that's the last time I ever fucking wore red is it?

42:32Thank you! Togi, what are you laughing at?

42:38James Tarkowski:He looks absolutely delighted to sign for the club there, doesn't he? Honestly, that picture was taken two minutes after I've just met Jimmy Martin, the old kit man. Bear in mind, I'm homesick. I didn't want to leave home. I was a young lad and he absolutely battered me for the clothes I was wearing. So that's why I'm not smiling. My face is just like, F you too. I'm not staying here very long, I promise you. I'm out of here at the first opportunity. I mean, those were more innocent days. You're the only player left now who remembers David Moyes' first stretch as Everton manager. So I'm genuinely interested.

43:19What was the club like then? And how much has it changed to how it is now? I mean, it's changed a lot, obviously, over the years. The Premier League and everything has got so much bigger and all the rest. But, yeah, listen, I came into a very tough school. He was a tough manager, someone that it was very hard to get a tap in the back from. But, in a way, he probably shaped me as an Everton player from them early years. the way I've seen him manage Everton is what I expected an Everton player to be. So it's been hard over the years. Generations have changed, but I've always tried to, you know, treat Everton like David Moyes kind of taught me how it should be.

44:00So I've kind of used his principles a lot over the years. And yeah, it's funny how it goes around and he comes back and he's a gaffer again. What's the most important thing you've learned from him? You say he's shaped your career. What's the most important life lesson that he's taught you? I mean, like, he's a stickler for the basics, you know, timekeeping, give it your all. But, you know, for me, I've said it, you know, in the media not so long ago, he's moved on, he's went to different clubs and that. But for me, he's always, I've always seen him as an Everton manager and to have him back. And even just in the short time he's been back, you know, his attention to detail, you know.

44:39for me I've said it as well we've got a manager in charge of the football club that wants success equally as much as the fans or the players do he cares about everyone in the football club

44:54Has age mellowed him at all?

44:59Has age mellowed him at all do you reckon? Well you only see him now but I would say yeah but he's still got he's still got that fire, like he's still got that bite that you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of but maybe I've matured but he was a lot scarier when I was younger than he is now So he was at 100 and now he's at 99 I think so, yeah Can you do the same for yourself? What were you like as a player and a person when we saw you there nearly half your life ago, 17 years ago and how have you changed? Yeah, I've changed a lot I was quiet as a mouse I didn't speak until I was spoken to Stickler for trying to earn my stripes and not get too carried away at myself.

45:43And just as the years went on, I've slowly but surely been maturing and been the longest player there. So I've kind of grown into that leadership role. Obviously, I've had some great lads come and go along the way, and one of them sitting across the table, and Jordan Pickford, and all these lads that have helped me along the way being a leader.

46:06I mean, you may have been quite as a mouse, but I've got to say, you play spoke loudly. You made an instant impact. I remember your debut, December 2009, against Spurs. You came onto the field as a substitute, turned that game around. Then you had a hand in both goals. You were man of the match. And you've since become one of the coolest constants of the club. You've almost become its calm centre, its beating heart, its captain. And one of the things that you're known for is reaching out to new players, young players, when they joined the club. I mean, James, you said the moment you signed, first thing you heard from was Seamus texting it.

46:43James Tarkowski:Yeah, I'd strange to just met him on holiday about a few weeks before, but once it was all officially signed, I just got a message from my phone just telling me to be myself, be the person I am and the footballer I am and I'll fit right in and just to have someone to look up to like Seamus. We're all so fortunate and he's loved by everyone who comes across him because he's such an incredible man.

47:10When you do that, when you step in, when you're almost like an ambassador for the club to new signings, what do you tell young players about the club that they need to understand? I think when people sign for Everton, I think maybe in the last few years they've seen Everton, where maybe I've not been used in the first couple of years of my time here, but we've seen Everton as 10th, 11th, 12th and in the last few years a bit lower but when you sign for the club and you get to understand the fans and if you're not performing they'll let you know so I think people don't realise the size of the club until they're actually there and it's just about trying to help people understand that and understand that Everton Football Club is people's life and it is that extreme them last three years when we were struggling and you're talking about me being the cam centre, I most certainly wasn't.

48:04I was the most nervous man in Liverpool, you know. But they care so much about their club and you just try and relay that to the players. And honest to God, not because these boys are sitting beside me, but I think in time it will go unnoticed, maybe how close we came, you know, to the dreaded drop over the last few years. But it's very hard to say it when you've just stayed above relegation zone. But see the last three or four years, the players that we've had in that dressing room, some of the shit we've had to take, rightly so, because of where we are. But that group of players, over the last three or four years, the way we stuck together when other teams would have faltered, we stuck together.

48:44And hopefully that group will see a brighter future. I mean, you may have said you acquire some house when you arrive, but you've been the team's captain since 2019. It's amazing to hear you speak. And you were the last men's captain to ever lead the team out at Goodison Park. I've got to say an injury meant you had to step off the field in the first half and it was an agony to watch. Because you're a player who has come to embody the entire defiant spirit of Goodison Park to be candid, Seamus. The entire spirit of everything, thank you. There you are. It's my ventriloquist. Can you put into words what it felt like to walk off that turf?

49:36Where you'd become a... I mean, you spent your whole adult life as a professional playing there. What did it feel for you personally stepping off that final time? Yeah, listen, ideally I would have played longer in the game. But yeah, the most important thing that day for me was walking out with my kids. You know, they mean everything to me. I don't know why everything I speak with my kids I get emotional but anyway walking out with my kids was everything to me that day and obviously I was gutted for James as well who led the team so well all season that he didn't get to play in that game but yeah just last time at Goodison was emotional for everyone and I think it'll take some while to get used to but listen to climb forward as a football club I think the new stadium is very exciting God bless I mean Goodison Park was our home for 133 years I will say one of my favourite modern moments February 2023 Everton were on a bit of a dark run I think we'd had one win in 10 games but who's counting yeah we were in 18th place but who cares we'd lost the derby a couple of days before and in came Leeds to Goodison Park my god we needed this we needed this so badly everything felt lost i'm going to be candid and then second half Seamus you just decided you know what i'm going to run onto a long ball from Alex Iwobi bless him and i'm going to go and do this

51:23That look on your face right there, you show every single human emotion in that moment. Yeah, listen, it was a big goal. Tariq is asking Ali if it was a cross or a shot. Were you really asking that?

51:40James Tarkowski:I'm going to wind him up.

51:44What was your answer? You know the answer. Yeah, it's a short, it's a short. Ask Jordan Pigford if he ever gets speaking to him. I've done it him a few times. No, listen, it was a once in a lifetime hit. You know, the keeper did a history of kind of standing off his line a bit. But listen, I could try that another thousand times. not going in but it just worked on the day and thankfully it was a big goal for us that season again I don't like to be hyperbole it's like watching Luke Skywalker send a torpedo down the Death Star but Tom what do you remember about that moment because it was it was like a human madness be nice

52:28James Tarkowski:I think when I seen him going down the line I'm thinking don't cross it there's no one in the box I'm also thinking don't shoot because you're not going to score and somehow I was in the net ripple and was as confused as anyone else in the stadium but no, I know it was a shot he's been humble, he's done it a few times and yeah, it was a big, big goal in that game in that time of year Second best goal I've seen in modern period in Gunnison Park

53:03after one of yours, Hilly

53:07we're in this era the new stadium is a once in a generation opportunity and it feels transformative it's like Clark Kent being like sod that I'm getting rid of the glasses I'm going to be Superman from now on and I know a lot of the young players have spent time at the new stadium you've walked the field you look to that south stand that steep 34.99 degrees vertigo inducing reality which will have 14 ,000 Evertonians you're all professionals ultimately you've seen it all, you've done it all as fans it's a different experience but as footballers the levels of energy, the prospect of playing there, can you talk about what it feels like in this moment?

53:49Yeah it's very exciting very exciting for everyone yeah we're hoping that it's the start of a better time for us. We've got to obviously be patient with all that as well. It's not just going to change overnight. But yeah, we've got to be excited. I think it's going to be incredible, you know, to have 52 ,000 Evertonians. You know, it's going to be loud. And people often say, well, the atmosphere will be the same, but, you know, you bring Evertonians anywhere and it's going to be loud. So it's going to be very exciting.

54:24James, can you talk about the prospect of playing there for you? What that feels like in that stadium with that fan base in a new reality?

54:34James Tarkowski:I just think we probably want to recreate the Goodison atmosphere and take it somewhere else. Even before my time at Goodison, as a player, as an Everton player, I always loved going and playing there. So it was a special place to go and play football and hopefully that atmosphere carries on into the new stadium. Godspeed from your mouth to God's ear. I mean, Shamish, I want to say you're a hardened professional. You've seen fire, you've seen rain. New manager, new owners, new front office, new stadium. The competitive fire burns for you. Still 17 seasons in with a thousand suns, the heat of. If you were to put into words for Everton fans what lies ahead, what would you say?

55:18I think we've suffered long enough now. We need to start thinking better things ahead.

55:27But like I touched on, we've been through a lot, obviously, the last three years. I feel like we've been steadied now with the manager. We've got to be excited. Like Tarqui said earlier, we have to be excited, but we have to be patient as well and bring in players that want to play for Everton Football Club and understand what it means and we'll be on the right track. which is I mean it's beautiful and it does deserve applause but I want to ask you there was delirium when it was announced that you'd signed a new contract it was the ninth contract that you'd signed as a blue there's no photo of him signing it because he was actually on holiday when he signed that thing is that true?

56:03That was yeah But it is incredible 17 seasons at Everton Football Club I mean if your career was a person it would be driving by now David Moyes said in this moment, he said he wanted you at the club, this is his quote, to help deliver the messages of what it means to be an Everton footballer. In your own words, Seamus, what does that mean to you? What does playing for Everton truly mean? Listen, it's the only, I don't want to say it's my club, it's everyone's club, but it's the only club I know and it means everything to me. Listen, I came over here as a young boy and the club looked after me I broke my leg playing for Ireland the club looked after me and then it means everything to me I live in the city so over years I've understood what it means to the people and I think that that's been the biggest thing for me what it means to the people and I've often said I'm very happy that I've lived in the city because I can relay that message to the lads but honestly these boys here now as well like they're they're leading the show as well now and and they understand what it means to play for Everton Football Club, which I feel in some way I've done my job, you know.

57:24Last question for you. You've seen it all with Everton. You've given it your all. You've lived every single human emotion. When you do finally hang up your boots, I hope in about 10 years, what do you want people to say, to tell their kids about when they saw Seamus Coleman and play for the Blues? I think what everyone would want, you know, Evertonians say about them. You know, no matter how I played, I gave my all and the club came first and I know it's cliche, but the results in the club and how we were performing meant more to me than my own results or my own performance at the time. But I just want them to remember someone that cared.

58:05I suppose that's it. Seamus Coleman, I do want to raise my point to you. You're honestly one of the rare footballers who's come to embody the entire club that they play for. Think of Prince. You think of Minneapolis. You think of Bruce Springsteen. You think of New Jersey. You think of Spike Lee. You think of New York. And you think of Seamus Coleman. And you do. You think of the entirety of Everton Football Club. To you. To the club. To more together. With eternal thanks, mate. New York City. Give it up for Seamus Coleman.

58:49I've got to tell you, here's the highlight of the show. It's some important Christopher Ward information. Who's won the watch? The quite beautiful Christopher Ward Everton collab, the Goodison. We're going to reveal, I've got to say I own one. It's got a little bit of the Goodison turnstile baked into the casement. And when I look at it, it reminds me of all the time I've spent in that beautiful place. For the moment we've all been waiting for, the winner of the Goodison is...

59:22Mark Timothy! God bless! Mark Timothy, congratulations. I hope that watch gives you all the joy it's given me. Can you get it from the Christopher Ward table? God bless you. It's right there for you. I want to thank Christopher Ward for making this night possible. let's give a big round for them because they've allowed us to come and celebrate this football moment together I want to move on and bring on our final guest tonight

1:00:01A Jen who's the single most transformational Everton manager of my lifetime. I'm going to say the absolute high point in this calendar year was on a January Monday when it was announced he'd be returning as Everton's manager for the second time. This Jen has been such a crucial part of Everton's past and now he's an integral part of its future. and I don't like to be hyperbolic, but he's a leader our entire globe, our entire planet needs right now. He's honest, he's emotionally intelligent, he's tenacious in equal measure. Above all, he's a soulful gentleman who understands Everton. He understands us better than we understand ourselves.

1:00:45It's an honour. It's a pleasure to say New York City, give it up for Mr David Moyes!

1:00:56And I would walk 500 more to be the man Once a thousand miles to fall the night you do

1:01:37David Moyes, welcome to New York City! Thank you very much.

1:01:45That's it. I'm not going to lie, I've got to tell you, today was 98 degrees. and all day I've just been worried about you and the SPF of your suntan lotion all day, David. The docs looked after me today, got my cream on. Got my cream on? I've had to coach with sunglasses on and a hat on to try it, but it was the best I could do. I'm not going to lie, I've seen you in your sunglasses and I don't know if we got a photo of your sunglasses, but you look like one proper hard bastard.

1:02:24By the way, that is a pair of sunglasses. What are your favourite things about being in America, David? Because I know you love it here. I know you've spent a lot of time here. I know you've thought about football here. I do. We're really fortunate. We used to always come on holiday, go to Florida, like a lot of the Brits did, and take their kids there. But the ones who've been around the club for a long time and all understand it, we used to bring the team here years ago. I think we've done Houston for the first time and since then we've had Salt Lake City we've had all over all over America really at different times so yeah we have so we've had so many good times over here and lots of good nights out as well I've got to say and please have got lots of great nights to come but I want to go back to January you return to Everton after almost 12 years away

1:03:45Thank you. Can you tell us now from inside the secrets, what changed? Was it tactical or was it mental? How did you do it? Well, at the time when I got the opportunity to come back, it was never in doubt that I wanted to do it. And actually, I'll probably tell the stories later on that I would have been offered the opportunity to come back a couple of times, but it always fell through for different reasons. But I had been offered another couple of Premier League jobs just before Sean lost his job. And I never expected it to happen. I really didn't. I thought that it wouldn't have happened at the time.

1:04:26But it did. And when the opportunity came around, it was the only one which I really would have any interest in, to be honest. Because I had left West Ham and I didn't really nod. I wasn't that bothered about if I went back or not. Great. But Everton was the only one which sort of made me think that I've still got a bit more work to do. That's nice.

1:04:48but you arrived let me ask you this way final home game of Goodison that 2-0 win against Southampton that we celebrated earlier with Billy you said something truly beautiful by the way you're so bloody good at quotes you're so I've got to tell you I have in my house I've got a couch that's just got embroidered scatter cushions just with David Moyes quotes on them you said the following you said this club felt to me like one big family, but it looked broken, felt broken, and it doesn't feel like that anymore. David, these were the same players, same squad. The football was just different. Beto, goals for the ages.

1:05:34Jake O 'Brien, the player of our dreams. Elevon and Di. I mean, he's a rhapsodic bard. and the only change, when I look at it, the only variable, and you don't want to hear this and you won't like this, was you and your management team. And we know, we say this in these moments, football is all about the players. But even in your humility, they won't let you take any credit at all. How do you explain the difference you made with that emotional return? Well, I think I would know Everton as well as a lot of people, maybe not people who've followed Everton all their life, but because I've had a chance to work inside, I didn't know exactly what every supporter needs, but I knew what the club needed.

1:06:26Obviously, what we needed to do was fix it, and there were signs that it was going to be fixed, and they were talking about it. So the Freedkins had just come in, and I had the feeling that, you know, this was going to be an opportunity for me to see if I could try and get it back on track the best we could. Let's be fair, this club is far too big, far too good to be going through the years where it's done.

1:06:53But it has been the situation and it's still going to take a bit of time for us to sort of figure it out. But the biggest thing was I'm saying, if I come back to Everton, and I get relegated with the team, I am finished. You know? I mean, any legacy I might have had in the past was gone completely. So the gamble was, could I keep them up? And generally I'm thinking, how could we keep them up? So what I was, I was incredibly pleasantly surprised with the players, what they were like. I actually was. I actually had a conversation with Seamus and Bainsey, came up to the house and I said to them that I was talking about, you know, tell me what's happening and they actually made it really easy for me.

1:07:43Probably Seamus and Bainsey were the one who sort of knocked me over the edge that we could come back and do it again. And I hope that that is the case because both of them were really powerful in what they said about the club and what they wanted and how it was. So, great to be back. What did they say? Yeah, well, Seamus felt that... Look, let's be fair, he's walked out the door, Seamus, now, but Seamus has carried the club probably for the last three years or four years. So, and, you know, Bainsey was more away from it, but obviously he knew all about it. So they had given me a few ideas of how they saw it working and what they thought would need to do, and they thought there was a lot of easy wins, and it meant wins by, you know, the players were sort of needing a new challenge and something different.

1:08:39But I was really surprised about the character was inside the dressing room. Seamus is unbelievable. He digs the players out. He lets them away with nothing. You know, they've got to, he really is, he's fantastic. But even Ashley Young was brilliant as well. Ashley Young was great. and then so these these boys made Gennany easy but then I looked at the fixture list I think it was Aston Villa you know Brighton I'm going my goodness where are we going to get our points from you know what I mean I'm saying I was like that shutting my eyes but after we got the first one out of the way it was nearly it was sort of we got a home run near enough right away because we got a few wins and it started to make the job a lot easier because it made it look as if, look, I'm not saying it was early, we were free of relegation, but it felt as if we'd got the job done quite quickly.

1:09:34God bless. It's all I can do to not go like this. I want to get fined. But can I say, you've had so many incredible moments as manager in your career. You swept into Everton the first time round and made this what we always were, but it needed your words, the People's Club. You won a European trophy with West Ham. where did this last season this last half season rank for you as an achievement in terms of the pleasure and the pride that you derive from it absolutely huge I'm telling you because when I came back I didn't really know what reception I would get, I had left but I've got to say everywhere I walked up the street every other Tony would always walk up to me and we'd talk about the past and things before and everybody was really good to me but you just never know how it was going to be and I have to say the reception I've got coming back was incredible and the reception I've had since has been amazing.

1:10:30It really is. And I don't take that for granted. You have to earn it. We have to keep going. You know, we've had a brilliant second half to the season. We really have. Can we continue it now and pick up, improve it? That is the question. But I do want to say what joy you've given. I think all of us, I don't like to speak for all of us, but Will, the joy we feel seeing you on the sideline just the emotions that you emanate we're in a world in which a Premier League manager, that role is harder and more demanding honestly more unforgiving than ever you just seem to be having a total blast with these blues you're age 62 I'm 40 years older than you, so I can ask you this question how How young do you feel?

1:11:25What age are you in your own mind, David? Well, I always hope that the best is still to come. I've just won a European trophy.

1:11:41I don't plan to be around forever doing the job. I really don't. I don't want to be in my grave because I've been on the touchline too long. But I want to come back and I want to make sure that moving into the new stadium, hopefully the club getting away from the position we're in starting to look towards getting back to where we were in the past I think that's what I want to do I want to try and get us back more maybe when the club the club I left is completely different to the club we've taken over now and I have to find out how I can get it back on track a little bit and I have to say that the players have been really really good and obviously we have to let people go, we have to change it around etc, but the players that have been here have done a brilliant job in the last six months, they really have

1:12:34You were 38 years old when you joined Everton for the first time look at that

1:12:46I might die it maybe die it back ginger You just said, do I have to diet back ginger? When you look at that, what do you see? I remember a really young and inexperienced manager in some way. And it was, look, it was great credit to Everton to choose me to be the manager at that time. Because, you know, Everton could have the pick of so many managers. and for the people I've probably told you this before Roger but I took over from Walter Smith who was actually a really close friend and a mentor really and even the day I got offered the job that evening when Walter had lost his job I went round to his house and knocked the door and he took me in and he says oh you've got to take the Everton job, it's a great job, he says he had so much dignity in how he spoke and you know quite often managers when they lose their job they're really bitter but Walter was the exact opposite he was encouraging me to take the job and it was a young manager who called it the People's Club and I don't know where that came from do you not do you really have no idea where that came from sorry by the way the People's Club it's like a scene in Mad Men it's like brilliant it's like you putting your hand into the soul of Everton Football Club and pulling it out and being here you are oh my god that you don't know where, do you really not know where that come from?

1:14:17No, do you know I'm not that clever to know that I could work that out, I really couldn't. I mean, your emotional intelligence is... I was driving into Liverpool when I was going to do my first press conference, and it was the evening, and it was the Thursday, because I was going to have to start the job on the Friday morning. And we're driving in, and it was quite nice, and all the kids in Liverpool looked as if they were wearing Everton shirts. All I could see was Everton shirts as I was driving in. And it made me think that, my goodness, everybody supports Everton. You know, everybody in Liverpool supports Everton.

1:15:00And it was just something that the night, maybe stupidity or something, and I said, you know, it's the People's Club. and it seemed to touch a note somewhere. Can I just ask you, what would 62-year-old David Moyes say to that guy, 38-year-old David Moyes, that you think he'd need to know now if you could go back in time? Yeah. Well, you know, as you get older, you get a bit wiser and you come a bit more mellow. I think when I was younger then, you didn't have carried so much baggage. And I mean by that is, you know, There's media, there's things you say, there's people looking for so much more now.

1:15:43At that time, you know, I didn't really care. And actually somebody reminded me, I don't know if the ones who remember, the first game, and I was going to, I can't quite, I don't know if it was Jesper Lindstroth who came off and he sort of came off and he was, you know, sultry in that and he threw a bottle down. He threw a water bottle down when he came off. And I went up to the back of the dugout and I said, you fucking do that again, you're getting it. I mean, it was a sort of, it was a way. But for all the ones who do know, when you're a young manager like that, I had to walk into the dressing room with Dava Ginola, you know, Paul Gascoigne, Big Duncan, you know, Tommy Graveson.

1:16:30Ah, I'm thinking, oh, my... So when I look back, I don't know how I got through the day, just introducing myself. but they were because they were all extremely seasoned players, top players they're probably saying, who's this guy walking in here but thankfully it all went pretty well and we moved on from there Can I just ask you you already told the story with the G.S. Will Lindstrom water bottle you were one of the most pugnacious 30 year olds I have ever met in football by the way, can we put that photo up again can we go back to that because it is, I see no difference. That's like Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man there.

1:17:11What would 38-year-old David Moyes think of 62-year-old Moyes? The 38-year-old think of 62. I think I would look and say, getting old, that guy's still at it, though. And look, I find myself now that I want to be the young man. I want to stick. I want to keep it going as hard as I can. I think now to keep up with the, you know, there's loads of really good coaches out there, young coaches, lots of different ideas, different ways of doing things. So the job is to try and keep matching it, trying to keep challenging them. And longevity, some which is really difficult in the Premier League. The Premier League has had some of the most outstanding managers really want to manage in the Premier League.

1:17:59but there's a lot of them don't do the journey or they don't seem to stick it out too long so I think having longevity in it I think is a bit of a success but in the same breath to be successful then we want to win things as well we want to be successful if we possibly can be I think 38 year old David Moyes would look at 62 year old David Moyes and be like my god no sunglasses he's a proper hard bastard transfer windows bubbling and gurgling I do wake up every single morning and I've got to say I get out of bed every single morning I love my children but my first thought every morning is please tell me we've re-signed Marouane Fellaini

1:18:49oh god look at that by the way I used to have hair like that I did But one gent I can't wait to watch, 22-year-old French striker, Taiono Bari. Look at him. By the way, in about 20 years, please God, I'll be on a stage in New York with him showing him that photo. He'll still be a blue. I'll be like, 20 years, where's it gone? He's a goal-scoring sensation. He's from Villarreal. He's a big boy, 6 '5". He's Erling Haaland-sized. But he's also good with the ball. at his feet, he can get in behind. And we have, I heard this signing, like all of you, I'm like, oh my God, we've got a biblical lineage of Barry's.

1:19:35I'm like, Barry on, Gareth Barry, now dear. Can you tell us what you've seen in training, what we can expect from this human being? Well, I've only seen him, he trained with us really with the team for the first time yesterday because when we, he'd been away with the French under-21s at the European Championships, so he only came back on Monday. He had a couple of days training, Monday, Tuesday. And we flew out on Wednesday and he trained with us yesterday. So it's really the first time we've seen him live, if you want to say that. I think what you see, I mean, look, we've not paid 70 million for a striker, which is the sort of going rate for the normal striker at the moment.

1:20:17So we've bought a young centre forward with potential. he's a very humble boy he works really hard for the team so I hope he'll fit in we'll give him a little bit of breathing space to settle but we're looking forward to he's scored some good goals so he'll join Beto in competition for playing up front God bless let's hear it for Beto I love that man Cassie David I mean, not to go too Fabrizio Romano on you, but what do you want the key pillars of Everton DNA to look for in the next chapter? What's the profile of the player you're looking for to help enable that? Well, the people, I want them all to have Seamus Coleman's character.

1:21:11I want them to have his commitment and his desire. So, look, we always want Everton players who can carry out those duties because we see it as hugely important. What we're having to find now is where do we find that? It's not an easy thing to find out. People grow into it. Seamus, when he first came in from Ireland, for example, he had to see the seniors there working, from Alan Stubbs and Davey Lear and all the people around those times and moving on. So he's picked it up. Even Phil Neville and all the people who were at the club, Tim Cahill, all those boys, And Sheamus has been the one who's carried it on.

1:21:49So we're now trying to feed that back. He's got to feed that back into the new boys coming in. So, look, we really want great character at Everton. But we also want... We need to improve the quality that we've got. We need to improve... We probably have to sign probably about nine or ten players before the start of the season. LAUGHTER

1:22:17I certainly feel an incredible desire to get you off stage as quickly as possible. There's work to be done. So I want to move to that future. Because the last time we spoke, February, after the derby win, everyone was bubbling, everything was euphoria. And you were like, yeah, I'm not going to the new stadium because we're not mathematically safe from relegation. Which I loved and admired. was very David Moyes. When you did finally go and get a first-hand look at the new home, what was it like for you to experience? What did that, emotionally, what did you feel? The new stadium? Yeah. Well, we went, the first time I went down was maybe about a month before the end of the season.

1:23:03We'd just got ourselves safe and I said, well, it's now time to go down. The new stadium is amazing. It really is amazing. And I went inside and they said, put on the Doc Martens, put on your hard hat and yellow bib. I'm saying I thought it was finished. So, but there was... So we got in and obviously there was still a lot of work inside getting done. But I have to say the bit for you supporters in the main was all complete and it's the viewing, the viewing, the steepness of the bank behind the goal. Some of you may have already been in at one of the test events. But so it's going to be really, really good to see how it looks when it's full with all the supporters in it.

1:23:56It'll be amazing. You said something beautiful about your first spell at Goodison Park. You said the most formative memory was, quote, the first day I arrived and walked out onto the Goodison field. So if you let yourself think about August 24th, Everton's first home game in the Premier League. It's our opener there. Have you visualised it? Have you thought about emotionally how that will feel for you? Because it's more than a new venue. It's more than a new stadium. It's like a symbol of ambition, a sense of possibility. Yeah, I've not really thought of the moment of doing that yet, but I have thought about how we make it like Goodison as much as we can.

1:24:36So Goodison, for everybody to say, was the compactness, people on top. Teams didn't like coming to Goodison ever. And it was mainly because of what the supporters brought. So what we've got to do is try and find a way that we make it as close to Goodison as we possibly can. I've got to say, I think that they've done a great job. I think they've listened to a lot of supporters on the building, etc. and they've made it as compact as I think you could probably get it in modern day football. It's fabulous. We had a friendly game on Tuesday against Port Vale. It was the first time we'd been in the stadium on the pitch and it was a big thrill for the players to get on it and it was very good.

1:25:20As a club, as a fan base, how do we find the balance between respecting the past without being kind of confined by it? I don't know if I can answer the question correctly but what I would say is ever since I've been at the club we've always been longing a new stadium and I always hoped it oh I hope they rebuild Goodison I hope they put an end on it Goodison and they build it up or they do something that's what I really wanted but I think when I look back and you see where they are now I think that if we didn't do it we wouldn't be able to get facilities we need, the more corporate areas we need, all the things which is coming from football.

1:26:03It's iconic site. It'll be an iconic building. And it's no doubt probably going to be a stadium which will host a European final, maybe not a Champions League final, but certainly one of the other ones, I think, in the future.

1:26:22I'm pleased God, Everton will be in it. I thought that's where you were going. Nine or ten new players. Just saying.

1:26:35I want to clear that by talking about this club. I mean, we have been a tenacious, scrappy, never-say-die club. A real collective, passion of the fans. Honestly, it's been as precious as oxygen, and I've felt that tonight being with you. But this stadium is a chance to almost complete a transformation, to reclaim the Everton of my youth, the Everton that competed to win, the Everton you took into the Champions League. God, Kalina, you bastard. Kalina. All those baldies, eh?

1:27:13What are you talking about?

1:27:19But I have seen Everton glory with my own eyes and I've seen you win, David. I mean, I'll be candid. one of my favourite moments in football two years ago when you won the Europa Conference League. I spoke to you right afterwards. You won with West Ham. You are one of the most human leaders in football. Watching you celebrate with your own dad. Watching you embrace him on the sideline. Look at that. Look at putting your winner's medal. Putting your winner's medal around your own father's neck.

1:27:53David, I love that photograph. I love that image. I hope I'm not looking at him later on. That's the worry. I mean, I've got to ask you, what would it take for Everton, for Evertonians to experience that kind of joy, David? Well, look, it has to be something which we won't get back to. The early days, we were competitive in Europe. When I say probably, I don't know how many years we made, four or five years we were in Europe at different times. And were there maybe more? And I think the best, if you remember the game against Fiorentina, we lost in penalty kicks. The quarterfinal, and that would have been probably were best.

1:28:35We'd lost 2-0 over there. We beat them 2-0 at home. Mikel Arteta was playing for us. I think Mikel missed the penalty. I think he did. Yeah, I think he did. Yeah, he did. I think I remember being in the ball watching that game in New York City. I was like, he won't miss. Yeah. It's Mikel Arteta. He's our best player. He did miss. Can I start with this? This is a complete tangent. I don't understand how Mikel Arteta became an Arsenal legend. He played far more games for us. But I'm going off on the tangent. Keep going. The Fiorentina game. Those days. Those glory days. Those days of Europe were brilliant.

1:29:11And remember, the first time we got to Europe, we drew Nuremberg. And the support we had in Nuremberg was unbelievable. It really was. and then so it was and there might have been a lot of people in here who went to Nuremberg you know what I mean but there you go but that was that was it and look there's there's a thing about sort of getting on the European tour so the plans to try and find a way of us by hook or by crook sort of getting to that level you know I hope we can do it I have to the year and I know we were in Covid but when I'd gone back to West Ham and we came from behind and we ended up finishing sixth in the league to get in Europe I don't see why we shouldn't be attempting that I'm not saying we can get it done but we've got to

1:30:06I'd just say listening to you being with you having you speak makes me believe in the club's aspiration of its dreams the stadium is how the club wants to be seen by the rest of the league, the rest of the world. I mean, we're talking about a chance to redefine what Everton is, what it can be. So last question to you, David. Can you speak directly to Everton supporters? The ones in this room, the ones watching around the world, and just tell them what we should expect this season in our new home and in the years to come. Well, let me say, first of all, you know, it's a pleasure for me to be back and a privilege as well, I have to say, because to come back to the club where I really started, I started at Preston, but really Everton was the club where I sort of made my early days and my way in football, really.

1:31:02But it has to be, it's more than that for me now because I can't be here forever, so I need to make sure that I get the club certainly going in the right direction, certainly in a much better place. this year I'd really like to build on what we've done even in six months because probably in the six months I think we would have finished maybe seventh or eighth in the Premier League on what we've done now

1:31:31it's actually quite sad that and I'm not saying that we're clapping at that but I think you're clapping at that because of what's come over the last three or four years or more so we now need to we now need to all get back to getting ourselves back near the top look I hate using the word promise but I promise that we'll be trying to get really good players into the club in the next few weeks we've been trying all summer and we expect to do that so we're going to we're going to we're going to look to bring in a lot of new players I'm getting we're getting good support from the Friedkins and the people behind the scenes as well but it's not been easy because most of the level of the players they want to be in Europe and we're not in Europe yet so this is why we have to find a way how are we going to get there no how can we get there without having all the top players but we're going to have to try and get there the best we can but I'm really confident that moving into the new stadium I think it's what every ever Tony's been wanting for years they've been waiting on it waiting on the moment and it's never easy when you move to a new stadium but I've got a feeling that the crowd will make the difference so that's hope so David Moyes

1:32:57I want to thank you

1:33:10I hope you feel the love in this room for you tonight, the gratitude, the just joy we felt in your return. I want to toast all it is to come. We Blues are lucky to have you. You're a man who leads with his heart, his head, a sense of inspirational honesty. I say in our world of chaos, all of those are too rare. I watch you with real awe how you lead. Ralph Waldo Emerson, I think he would have been a proper Blue, he once said. our chief is someone we want who will inspire us to be who we we know we could be and I've got to say when I look at you David that is who you are and I want to thank you for the joy you brought to my life to our family to thousands of Evertonians across the world New York let's hear it for your manager Mr David Moy thank you

1:34:01guys I want to thank you all for sharing this night with us. Come and have a pint with me at the Brass Monkey. We'll sign everything. 55 West 12th Street. It's five minutes walk away. Before we end, I want to just say I want to thank everyone at Everton who's made this possible. Scott McLeod, Mo Mags, Helen Clark, three giant-hearted wonders. I want to thank the players. St David Moyes. And above all, I want to thank you, my fellow Everton fans. We've dreamed, we've yearned, at times we've suffered, we've celebrated, we are here, we are still alive. We stand here in the midst of a pivotal summer.

1:34:51New stadium, new energy, new future. Honestly, we're crawling into a chrysalis. we will emerge like a butterfly with a pathway a home renewed it feels so good to feel so bloody good again let's tap into that it's all we've yearned for I just say why not us Everton Football Club Beto heading the ball down send Barry to nod in to deliver all we've yearned for Everton Football Club fans, God bless your courage thank you very much, good night up the fucking toffees!

1:35:56And there's no way we're going to fail So get your coat on and get through it