From a child on a crate at the end of Gwladys Street, Alan Stubbs started fulfilling his dream of Captining Everton.
But his last Goodison Park ambition was reached just in time before the old lady closes his gates against Southampton on Sunday for the last time.
I was there to see it last Friday, because 54-year-old Stubbs were persuaded to play again on the famous peat, but this time next to his son Sam in a company game.
My old Merseyside Derby rival did well to take 80 minutes and even better to catch your breath afterwards, so that he could talk to me about the unmistakable arena that he simply calls 'at home'.
Stubbsy has so many memories of being an Evertonian man and boy and although I am a red, I am also proud that I have been a small part of the Goodison history – the winner scored for Liverpool in 2003 with a shot described by the competition commentator as 'spectacular!'
Alan remembers the first goal that afternoon, converted by Michael Owen. In the structure, Stubbs quoted was questioned by Michael's Derby-Record-Hij had not scored from open play against Everton.
My teammate was not well confused there and, unnecessary to say, rushed past the Everton defense and hit one after half an hour.
Stubbs Grimces: “He ran past me after the goal and went,” What did you say about my record! “
“I thought you were little and so on. I knew he had read the piece and wanted to make a point. It still sticks out now. '
That was a bad goodison remembrance for my interviewee, but Kirkby's boy also had a lot of good, initially as a fan.
“My first game was 1980 at the age of eight. The Gwladys Street had a fence and they put crates on the wall for the young boys so that you could lean forward and see the field, “he explains.
'I was lucky to become an Everton supporter in the 1980s. We won trophies, we had open-top bus parades. My favorite players were Peter Reid and Graeme Sharp.
'The semi-final of the Bayern Munich Cup-Winners' Cup at Goodison was epic. Everyone was lifted from his feet when a goal entered.
'You would be in one place, 10 seconds after the parties, you would be very different somewhere. That's how it was then. '
Ironically, Stubbs made his first Goodison performance as a player who wore a Bolton Wanderers-shirt and scored in a 3-2 FA Cup victory against his boy heroes.
“It was a strange feeling because my whole family was blues,” he remembered. “My parents and brothers and sisters were all in the stands who wanted me to do well – but for Everton to win.”
In 2001 everyone was happy when he walked the tunnel as an Everton player, signed at Celtic. His debut was chaotic with opponents who had sent two men in a 1-1 draw.
The next seven years of a brief spell at Sunderland-Was Stubbs the most important half of Everton, which helped them were helped from relegation opportunities to Europe.
They even finished fourth in 2005: “Nobody thought we were good enough and that taught us,” he admits.
'To celebrate, the Gaffer called on us to Albert Dock and handed out Champagne. It was a good night.
'Walking to Goodison felt better for the first time than any result I had ever experienced.
'Another striking was on the field when Wayne Rooney scored his iconic goal against Arsenal.
“We knew that Wayne would be special. There were murmur around the training field in Bellfield about this street boy with ridiculous talent.
'David Moyes gave me the task of taking care of Wayne off the field – which I keep my hands up and say that I failed!
“I gave him lifts to Goodison and when we left for the preseason or a break in the middle season, the Gaffer told me that he didn't want Wayne to do something thief.
“I took a Wayne drink to keep him wise. It ended with Wayne who brought me to bed and that he then went back with the rest of the boys! '
Goodison was famous for its hostility. In Liverpool our manager Gerard Houllier would lead his team conversations because he was disciplined. He thought Everton would lose their heads on Derby Day, so we should keep ours.
It often worked. When I scored in our 2-1 victory, Everton David Weir and Gary left Naysmith.
Stubbsy feels that fewer local players means that there is less blood and donder on the field, but, conversely, a greater rivalry between fans.
It used to be called the friendly derby. During my first visit to Goodison in 1991 I was in the Gwladys Street. There were bags of Liverpool fans without drama.
“It is driven away,” Stubbs admits. “Maybe it's a society. Perhaps, completely honest, Liverpool's success has been a factor while we were struggling. '
The gap between the clubs has never been bigger and Everton hopes that a larger stadium will increase the income to bridge the gap.
Stubbs has visited the new land. “I am convinced that it will have an atmosphere,” he predicts. 'The distance between the seats and the touchline is the same as with Goodison.
'What it has to do is build character. Goodison has bundles of it. It's like moving to a new house. The building is impressive, but we have to post photos on the wall.
'Nobody expects Everton to be top day next season. I don't think they will be completely free of PSR for another year.
'The Academy does not appear to be outlook like before. Harrison Armstrong has praising reviews on loan at Derby, which is good, but he is only one.
'What we cannot afford as a team is to sell Jarrad Branthwaite. He is already good and I think he can become top. '
Not many people know that when I left Liverpool in 2004, the first conversation I had with another club was Everton. But Moyes told me that it could be a struggle and a struggle and I wondered if that is what I wanted at that stage of my career.
So I never became part of Everton's history – unlike the man next to me.
Stubbsy will be one of the dozens of large Everton players on Goodison on Sunday, including striker from the 70s Bob Latchford, icons from the 80s Reid and Sharp and Rooney.
Alan will also work for radio during the game and playing the words can be one of the biggest challenges with which he is confronted when he looks around for a familiar environment for the last time.
“It will be emotional. I am not afraid to say that there will be a tear in my eye. Sometimes you can't fight these things, “he accepts.
'It will be an end of an ERA party. It will be sad, but I am also enthusiastic about the next chapter. Let's see what the future brings. '