Everton fan 'followed in Nan's footsteps' as Goodison Park guide

The granddaughter of a much-loved tour guide at Everton's Goodison Park stadium said she was very proud to keep her nan's legacy alive by following in her footsteps.Lily Barnes, who worked for the Blues for 43 years, was described as "the face of Goodison Park" following her death in December 2023 at the age of 79.Her granddaughter Elle Barnes-Reen first joined Everton on work experience before working her way up to become the club's tour and commercial events manager.Ahead of Goodison Park's final men's first-team match on Sunday, Elle described what the club and its stadium, known as the Grand Old Lady, meant to her.
"Everton Football Club is pretty much my life," said Elle."My career has always been at Everton, so I think it's been a part of building who I am as a person."Her grandmother Lily started working at Goodison Park in 1979 and spent 18 years giving tours of the Toffees' stadium.Elle said she was only 16 when she had her own first taste of working there."I just fell in love with the place," she said. "I wanted to be more involved. I wanted to learn more."
Over the years, Lily shared her love for all things Blue with Elle.Her enthusiasm was clearly infectious."My nan taught me everything that I know and seeing her deliver the best tours I could possibly imagine, learning the history and the facts from her - that was special to me," said Elle."When I took over the full tour, and she just had an eye-to-eye moment with me, no words spoken. But it was just a 'we've got there'."The Blues will move to their new 53,000-seater arena at Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.Earlier this week, it was announced that Goodison Park will become the home of Everton's women's team.Elle said the last men's first-team fixture there on Sunday would be an emotional moment."This place is a museum of memories," she said. "Not just for me, but for everyone I've met along the journey."It's a sanctuary of where you just feel belonging and unity as a family."
Many Everton staff stay with the club for years.Head groundsman Bob Lennon started in 1988."I've seen a few managers here," he said."Colin Harvey was one. He wanted the pitch cut short and well-watered before the game [while] Sean Dyche wanted it wheat-long and dry."He remembered a time when Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola "wanted it cut short" and had jokingly asked: "Have you got no petrol for your mowers?"The reply was: "You're playing at Goodison Park. It's our pitch and we will play how we want to play it!"
Bob said the move to Bramley-Moore Dock would be an adjustment period for players, staff and fans alike."It's a fantastic stadium but it will take a few years to get it softened up to the Everton ways," he predicted."It's like a brand new house. You've got to put your own stamp on it."As it is now, it's just a building with no soul on it."It's up to the players, staff and the fans to give it some."
Kit man Tony Sage, meanwhile, has enjoyed 25 years at Goodison Park."Personally, I've never wanted to leave Goodison but when you see what has been developed on the dock, it's fabulous," he said."It is going to be tough for many Evertonians. "It's a big change in their lives. It's been their life for so long - so many wonderful memories for a lot of them. "But this is it. It's coming to an end. We're just going to embrace it."
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