It’s a year on from the first matchday at what would become Hill Dickinson Stadium with Everton Under-18s facing their Wigan Athletic counterparts in the first test event at the Blues’ future home on February 17, 2025. Ever since the mid-1990s, Everton have been making serious attempts to find a replacement for Goodison Park, the first purpose-built football ground in England, venue for the most top flight matches and their home since 1892.

That dream became a reality last summer, when following a second test event in March when the Blues’ Under-21s faced Bolton Wanderers B – a fixture that included a planned evacuation in the second half – Everton moved into their stunning new 52,769 capacity base on the Mersey waterfront. David Moyes’ men started with a behind closed doors friendly win over Port Vale before the team headed off to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series but following their return, there was the third test event against Roma – the inaugural first team game in front of supporters – followed by the first competitive match as Brighton & Hove Albion were beaten 2-0 on August 24.

Since then, there has been a first stoppage-time...