Duncan Ferguson brought down the curtain on his Everton career with a late equaliser against West Brom in the 2-2 draw this afternoon.
The giant Scot, captain for the day and with the likelihood of a free transfer coming his way, completed Everton's fightback from 2-0 down before going on an emotional lap of honour with his children and with tears in his eyes.
The 34-year-old was given a guard of honour by his team-mates at the end and was clearly moved by the tribute.
Albion had taken a deserved two-goal lead through goals from Zoltan Gera and Williams Martinez before Everton stormed back with two goals in the last five minutes.
First teenager Victor Anichebe pulled a goal back and then Ferguson stepped up to see his penalty on 89 minutes saved, only for him to force home the rebound.
Manager David Moyes has not yet revealed his retained list, but it has been predicted that Ferguson will not get a new contract and, after two spells at the club which have seen him play 238 matches for Toffees, this looked like his farewell as he carried his young son onto the pitch as mascot.
A packed Goodison Park then paid tribute to legendary defender Brian Labone, with a minute of sustained applause before the start.
Everton had Mikel Arteta, who received his player of the year trophy, back from injury and he quickly began unpicking Albion's defence.
Two corners swirled into the box before he crossed from the right for Kevin Kilbane to send in a fierce header on five minutes, tipped onto the bar and then collected by goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
But Albion were quick to respond and took the lead on 14 minutes when Gera arrived on the far post to fire home Jonathan Greening's deep left-wing cross.
Albion were far more lively, and it took Everton some time to get back into the game.
Leon Osman saw a close-range shot deflected wide after Kilbane's pass, and from the corner - taken by Arteta - Kilbane saw a glancing header touched over by Kuszczak.
But with the pressures of their failed relegation fight now lifted, Albion were producing some neat football with a committed attitude. And when Gera's cross reached Nathan Ellington in the box, the striker's shot was only just over the bar.
Everton should have equalised when Phil Neville's cross was nodded on for Kilbane to crash a shot into Kuszczak's chest before the Polish keeper make a fine block from the follow-up.
Kanu almost made it two straight from the re-start with a near-post header from Greening's cross which Iain Turner deflected wide.
But from a corner on 47 minutes, taken by Greening, the ball was flicked on by Gera for Williams Martinez to volley the visitors further ahead on his first start for the Baggies.
Everton hit back when James McFadden got away from Martinez to force Kuszczak into another excellent save, before Ferguson looked to have found the net with a header from a long free-kick, but he was controversially given offside.
Kuszczak stopped McFadden after the Scot had been put clear in the box, before turning away another Ferguson header.
Albion replaced former Everton man Steve Watson with Jared Hodgkiss, before Everton took off Simon Davies and Kilbane and sent on Andy van der Meyde and teenager Anichebe.
Anichebe was in the fray immediately and turned his marker in the box only to see Kuszczak make another block.
And with five minutes left the Nigerian youngster neatly got away from Martinez onto Arteta's pass to force his shot past Kuszczak. His first goal for the club had arrived on only his second appearance as a substitute.
Everton were pounding Albion now, and Neville had an effort blocked before Osman fired over an open goal in the dying minutes.
But after 89 minutes came a fitting end for Everton and Ferguson. Martinez brought down Arteta and up stepped Ferguson to see his penalty saved before firing home the rebound for the equaliser, with Ronnie Wallwork was booked for protesting.
