From being a kid who stood on a crate at the Gwladys Street End, Alan Stubbs went on to fulfil his dream of captaining Everton.
But his final Goodison Park ambition has been achieved just in time before the Old Lady closes its gates for the last time against Southampton on Sunday.
I was there to witness it last Friday as 54-year-old Stubbs was coaxed out of retirement to play on the famous turf once again, but this time alongside his son Sam in a company game.
My old Merseyside derby rival did well to last 80 minutes and even better to catch his breath afterwards so he could chat to me pitch-side about the unmistakable arena he simply calls 'home.