Harrison Armstrong gets cheeky request as Everton favourite makes sensational comeback

Everton supporters will have to get used to fans desperate to make the most of their final chance to taste the atmosphere at Goodison Park in its final year. It will be hard enough for those who attend most games to come to terms with the end of such an incredible era.

That was clear already on Saturday against Roma - it was notable how many fans paused at the entries to stands and took a deep breath as they looked upon the ground again.

re-season is an opportunity for parents to bring children and loved ones to ‘first games’ and there were plenty of families who took that chance against the Serie A outfit.

At the end of the match there was no shortage of people having a quiet, emotional moment in the stands. Some lingered well beyond the final whistle to take in the post-match calm and reflect.

Blues will be doing that all year. But the famous stadium will be on the bucket list of many and for all the excitement and jeopardy on the pitch, Everton will be able to take pride over the coming nine months as the whole of football - not just those associated with the club - say their farewells.

The final chance to tick such a famous venue off the list was part of the inspiration for the impressive following of supporters Roma brought for the friendly - a collection that made a fair bit of noise in the early stages. But it will not just be the away end where people will be desperate to get a taste of Goodison.

Another arena for memory-making looks set to be the press box. Several Italian journalists made the trip to Merseyside for the friendly and, as the ECHO was busy in its pre-match build-up, it was lovely to see those reporters taking pictures of each other and posing for selfies against the Goodison backdrop. Make no mistake, this will be a poignant and sentimental season for everyone fortunate enough to visit the Old Lady.

‘I'll give you £20 lad’

Harrison Armstrong has had some summer. He has been slated as a player with real promise for a while and continued his progress through the academy last season by stepping up above his bracket and earning experience with Paul Tait in the Under-21s.

The 17-year-old has now stepped up even further. A box-to-box midfielder, he has been in the first-team squad for every friendly since the defeat at Salford City - a game he came off the bench to play in, albeit out of position on the right of midfield.

Armstrong scored in the behind-closed-doors win over Motherwell on Tuesday and played a big role in the final of the six goals scored at an empty Goodison Park that day.

He got on the pitch again against Roma, earning a first taste of a life as a player in front of supporters at the famous stadium when he came on as a late substitute.

That appearance did not allow him to escape the post-match warm-down and when he emerged from the tunnel he had to deal with another new experience - that of lots of supporters now knowing his name.

The demand for his shirt was loud and eager as fans who had stayed late asked him for his shirt as he stepped out to run through his fitness drills.

He acknowledged the support and appeared grateful for it but had to keep it on as he went through his drills, even after one generous offer from a schoolboy fan - who shouted: "I'll give you £20 lad."

Having signed a new contract this summer and now well and truly on Sean Dyche's radar, that offer was probably not as tempting as it may have been a few months ago!

Injured stars watch from the sidelines

Sean Dyche's players have had a fair few aches and pains to deal with during pre-season, and some are closer to a return than others.

One player not expected to be fit for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion next week is Jarrad Branthwaite. The centre-back is said to be closing on a return but is not expected to be ready for the season opener as he continues to recover from a minor groin operation earlier this summer.

Alongside him in the stands was Michael Keane, who is expected to be fit on Saturday. The centre-back has been a key player for Dyche amid the defensive woes of pre-season and missed this match with a slight injury.

But Keane is expected to return to training on Monday or Tuesday and be in contention to start alongside James Tarkowski at the back. James Garner and Nathan Patterson were also in the stands for the match as they continue their own rehabilitation.

Gwladys Street seeing double

When the starting XIs came out of the tunnel to the tune of Z-Cars, Everton had not one but two goalkeepers in full kit on the pitch. It was a surreal sight to see two players in bright green in the goal at the Gwladys Street end as the match officials prepared to start the game, with Jordan Pickford and Joao Virginia both heading out into the sun-bathed box.

It turned out Everton had a twelfth man for some last minute warm-ups for Pickford while the coin toss and pennant exchange took place, with Virginia testing Pickford's hands with some last-minute half-volleys from close range.

Super Stephen hits the bar - then the deck

The final season at Goodison Park will see an increase in supporter opportunities to engage with the club and experience the stadium in new ways. A lot of hard work is going into this at the ground with a real desire to give fans as many chances as possible to make new memories in the 133rd and final campaign at the old lady.

This season marks the return of the 'hit the bar' competition at half-time and it made a sensational comeback. Two competitors had three efforts each to hit the bar in front of the Park End from the edge of the box. One of them, Stephen, came close twice before rattling the woodwork with his final effort - winning a signed shirt as a result.

He tried to smash the ball in celebration as it rebounded in his direction, only to miss and end up on the floor - his success and then failure earning widespread applause and cheers from the thousands who had stayed in their seats.