Seamus Coleman talk, club history video - how Everton's players prepared for Goodison Park finale

Everton marked the final Premier League game at Goodison Park with a 2-0 win over Southampton

Seamus Coleman delivered a speech to Everton’s players on the eve of the game against Southampton to remind them about the importance of signing off from Goodison Park in style. Members of David Moyes’ squad were also shown a video of the club’s history to help them further understand why Sunday was such a big occasion.

In a stunning atmosphere and a sea of blue, Everton bid farewell to Goodison with a win as they beat Southampton 2-0 thanks to Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half double. However, the day was about so much more than the 90 minutes.

After the final whistle, a farewell party took place on the pitch, with Everton greats returning, and Dwight McNeil has revealed that he and his team-mates were made well aware of the occasion and why it means so much to those connected to the club.

He said: “We knew how important it was today to get the win, and we are happy that we have done that.

“All week the gaffer has been on it, and skip (Coleman) talked to us last night about how important today was.

“We had a little video this morning before we set off about the whole history of the club. We knew what the job was today, and we are really happy we got that done.

“You can see what they have won as a club over the years. It has been a struggle over the past few years, but it is what the club is; it has never backed down from any challenge. Like I say, we just knew how important it was today to get that win.

Asked who put the video together, McNeil revealed: “It was between the backroom staff, they made the video.

“Like I say, it had stuff from the past and stuff recently as well, some of the struggles we have gone through, but we came through the other end. We are all really happy.

“I think that is one of the reasons I wanted to become a footballer. The pressure that comes with it, but at the start of the week we knew how important this game was going to be.

“The main aim was to win the game and we did that. We kept another clean sheet as well, which is good.”

Thousands of supporters flocked to Goodison hours before kick-off to recreate scenes last witnessed during the club's battles to avoid relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

This time round, though, fans were just here to enjoy the day and give Goodison the send-off they believed it deserved.

“It is funny because I sit next to skip, Seamus, on the coach and me and him were talking about it, what it has been like coming in the last few years towards the end of the season,” McNeil said.

“It was nice to have that game with no pressure. The only pressure was to win the game. We all knew what we wanted to do, and it was a lot happier day.”

Coleman made his long-awaited return to the starting line to lead the Blues out for the final time at Goodison.

However, the Republic of Ireland international was forced off early in the first half after picking up a thigh strain.

He received a standing ovation as he made his way, and McNeil said: “Skip is massive here. He is a massive part of the club and like I say, he has been here for a long time now.

“I said to him that it was an honour to start the game with him behind me. I am really thankful for that now and I will never forget that moment.

“It is massive. He is a massive part of our club. It was unfortunate for him to come off as early as he did, but then Youngy (Ashley Young) came on, who is one of my closest friends here, and that was another privilege to play his last minutes at Everton with him.

“That is another moment that I will never forget. I am really privileged and honoured because they are legends of the game.”