The first two teams to play at the Toffees’ new stadium on Monday night were the Under-18 squads of Everton and Wigan Athletic.
Fans were in awe of Harrison Rimmer’s courageous celebration as he became the first player to ever score in Everton’s new stadium on Monday night.
For the first time, Everton and Wigan Athletic’s Under-18 teams played a test match in front of about 10,000 Toffees fans at the Bramley-Moore Dock location.
Additionally, Everton supporters have a slogan that encapsulates what happened this evening. When strange things happen to the Merseyside-based team too frequently, supporters say, “Everton that.”
When Wigan’s Rimmer scored just 11 minutes into the game on Monday night, many fans surely uttered those exact words.
However, many were drawn to what he did during the celebration. Rimmer was understandably ecstatic about his accomplishment.
He turned to face the Everton fans seated in the South Stand shortly after his goal and gave them the finger.
If you have never heard of such a celebration, it is employed by a number of football players who support Liverpool when they score at stadiums like Goodison Park and Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
The Reds have, of course, won six European Cups and Champions League crowns.
One supporter inside the stadium was less understanding and could be heard yelling “breaking his f****** legs,” while other fans on social media found the humorous side.
A supporter on X commented: “Harrison Rimmer makes the “6 Times” gesture after scoring the first goal in Everton’s new stadium! No Everton could be better.
“Turns out he’s a Liverpool fan,” another person said.
A third, however, wrote: “The first goal at the new Everton stadium is scored by Harrison Rimmer of the Wigan U18s. Keep it in mind during your pub quizzes.
Rimmer has played for the Latics since he was eleven years old and is described as a “tough-tackling midfielder who can also operate at right-back” on Wigan’s website. He also has “a real appetite to compete in both training and matches and is good both technically and physically.” And you might certainly add the skill of calming Everton supporters to his list of strong points, considering what he did on Monday.
Six minutes after Rimmer’s first goal, Cole Simms gave Wigan a second.
